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Petrovic sends Maresca message, Andrey Santos wows, Wiley issue, Broja wait - Chelsea loan latest

Djordje Petrovic helped Strasbourg record a big win over Marseille at the weekend
-Credit: (Image: Philippe Lecoeur/FEP/Icon Sport via Getty Images)


Enzo Maresca's Chelsea backroom team have plenty of football to watch over the course of the season with a host of the club's players out on loan. Due to the sheer size of the squad at Maresca's disposal ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, a number of loan and permanent moves had to be sanctioned in order to cut the playing staff down to size.

Seeing a decent amount of players remain behind in England to get their regular first-team football elsewhere, others headed across Europe and even a bit further afield. Once this season has come to a close, players could either come back into Maresca's thinking after positive loan spells or permanent transfers could be on the equation as Chelsea plan for the years ahead.

So how exactly did Chelsea's loan stars get on over the weekend? football.london takes a look below.

Andrey Santos (Strasbourg)

Andrey Santos delivered another strong showing in midfield to help Strasbourg record a statement win over Marseille. Playing the 90 minutes for the Ligue 1 outfit, Santos registered a pass completion rate of 93%, he made seven passes into the final third, was accurate with all four of his long balls, completed his two attempted dribbles and won three of his four tackles.

The midfielder has quite clearly continued to make a mark for Strasbourg following his return to the French side, with head coach Liam Rosenior waxing lyrical about his man.

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"Andrey is a top player, he is a true professional," he said (via One Football). "He works every day to progress and improve. On the pitch, he plays like a very experienced player, almost like a coach."

Strasbourg are at home once again this weekend as they host Lens, with PSG their opponents immediately after the second international break of the season.

Alfie Gilchrist (Sheffield United)

Sheffield United remain in the top six in the Championship following a 0-0 draw away at Portsmouth on Saturday. The Blades are one of only two teams yet to lose in the Championship this term, although Chris Wilder's side could do with turning a few draws into wins if they want to take one of the two automatic promotion spots come the end of the season.

Alfie Gilchrist once again started and was given a score of 6.5/10 for his performance by The Star. They wrote: "Gave the ball away uncharacteristically early in the game and will have breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Cooper touch Lane's shot wide of the far post. Otherwise defensively excellent as he got his body in the way of a couple of crosses from dangerous positions down the left before making way again for Seriki."

Aaron Anselmino (Boca Juniors)

Things didn't quite go the way Aaron Anselmino and Boca Juniors had planned at the weekend as they lost 2-0 away at Belgrano. The centre-back played the full game for Boca after only getting 17 minutes the previous week in the Superclasico against River Plate.

Caleb Wiley (Strasbourg)

Caleb Wiley looks like he is going to have quite the task on his hands breaking back into the Strasbourg starting XI. Missing out the previous weekend away at Lille due to tendinitis in his knee, the full-back was again absent on Sunday for the brilliant 1-0 win over in-form Marseille.

It was ex-Chelsea man Diego Moreira who scored the only goal of the game, with the 20-year-old operating in an unorthodox left-back role.

Lesley Ugochukwu (Southampton)

Lesley Ugochukwu will be hoping he has done enough to return to the Southampton team to face Bournemouth on Monday evening after starting from the bench last time out against Ipswich Town.

Bashir Humphreys (Burnley)

Bashir Humphreys made his return to the Burnley team for the first time since his sending off in the 1-0 win away at Leeds United earlier this month. Missing the late home victory over Portsmouth in the process, the Chelsea youngster started at right-back in Saturday's 0-0 draw away at Oxford United.

Humphreys was awarded a score of 7/10 by the Burnley Express for his showing as he kept Siriki Dembele "pretty quiet". Burnley host Plymouth Argyle at home on Tuesday evening before a Lancashire derby clash against Preston North End at the weekend.

Kepa Arrizabalaga (Bournemouth)

Kepa Arrizabalaga and Bournemouth had the weekend off as they return to Premier League action on Monday evening at home to Southampton. The Spaniard will be expected to keep his place in the team after returning to the side for the 3-0 defeat to Liverpool.

Djordje Petrovic (Strasbourg)

Djordje Petrovic continues to get the minutes for Strasbourg after making the move to the Ligue 1 side before the transfer deadline. Having seen Strasbourg draw both games since taking over the gloves for Rosenior's team, Petrovic played his part in an eye-catching 1-0 win over Marseille on Sunday.

Making three saves across the ninety minutes, the 24-year-old was the first goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet against Roberto De Zerbi's free-scoring side this season as the French giants lost for the first time. Even though he is away from Stamford Bridge for this season, Petrovic is still targeting the No.1 jersey at Chelsea and has sent a message to the Blues and Maresca.

"That's a goal, to become regular No.1 at Chelsea," he said after the Marseille game (via Fabrizio Romano). "It's one of the best teams in the world and I hope that will happen."

Raheem Sterling (Arsenal)

It was a decent week for Raheem Sterling as he netted his first goal for Arsenal in their 5-1 Carabao Cup victory over League One side Bolton Wanderers. The attacker also got an assist in the match as the Gunners set up a fourth round tie away at Preston North End.

In terms of the Premier League, the experienced player has had to settle for minutes off the bench in two of their last three league fixtures, with Sterling getting 16 minutes to his name last Saturday in their late 4-2 win over Leicester City. Arsenal have a busy week to come with PSG in the Champions League and Southampton in the Premier League on the agenda, thus giving Sterling the opportunity to increase his Arsenal minutes in the process.

Armando Broja (Everton)

The wait for Armando Broja to make his Everton debut goes on with the striker still on the sidelines with a foot injury. As the Toffees only have one more game to go before October's international break, it may be once the latest round of international fixtures have concluded when Broja finally makes his return.

Everton have an away game at Ipswich Town immediately on the calendar after the international break.

Trevoh Chalobah (Crystal Palace)

Trevoh Chalobah was named in Oliver Glasner's Crystal Palace squad for the first time in the Premier League last Saturday following his return from injury. Named on the bench for their 2-1 defeat at Everton, the defender was an unused substitute for the game on Merseyside.

The Chelsea player will be hoping to make his debut for his new club this weekend when they host Liverpool at Selhurst Park.

David Datro Fofana (Goztepe)

David Datro Fofana made his debut for Turkish side Goztepe at the weekend as they lost 4-3 away at Samsunspor. The striker was introduced for the final 13 minutes of the contest as his side saw their 3-1 lead wiped out late on following ex-Celtic man Oliver Ntcham's stoppage-time winner.

Goztepe have a chance to put things right on Saturday when they host Sivasspor.