Chelsea quartet 'not expected to go out on loan'

At the start of the season, Pochettino said on more than one occasion that he ideally wanted to work with a senior squad of around 22 outfield players, plus goalkeepers

However, such has been Chelsea's injury issues during 2023-24 that a total of 27 outfield players have been used in just 21 Premier League games.

Although Chelsea remain with a number of players still on the sidelines, several have returned in recent weeks, increasing the likelihood of more loan exits being facilitated before Thursday's transfer deadline.

That became particularly more realistic when Andrey Santos, Cesare Casadei and Diego Moreira were all recalled from their respective stints elsewhere.

Chelsea are also in a position where arranging further loan spells for the aforementioned players or current backup first-team members would hand an immediate boost to their FFP position through loan fees and wages coming off their outgoings.

Nevertheless, according to the Evening Standard, Pochettino is content to keep as many of the aforementioned trio - plus Deivid Washington - at Stamford Bridge.

Moreira is in a position where he must stay at Chelsea having played 45 minutes of an EFL Cup tie against AFC Wimbledon before his switch to Lyon.

In the case of Santos, Casadei and Washington, though, loan moves elsewhere have been considered likely, especially with Santos after his disastrous stint at Nottingham Forest.

Pochettino has previously acknowledged that, with Santos currently representing Brazil Under-23s in South America, there was no rush to make a decision, but it appears that the youngster may stay put.

Casadei was surprisingly recalled from his productive spell with Leicester City, where he was playing regularly, yet he could now be one of eight central-midfield options for the rest of 2023-24.

With a foreign loan slot available, the feeling has been that Washington or Santos could move abroad, the former being restricted to just 23 first-team minutes across two appearances.

The 18-year-old also has just two Premier League 2 outings to his name, but Pochettino is seemingly prepared to keep the Brazilian teenager as backup to Nicolas Jackson, Armando Broja - should he remain at Chelsea - and Christopher Nkunku in attack.