Chelsea's top loanees: Lewis Baker, Tammy Abraham, Bertrand Traore
Friday 7 October 2016 13:03, UK
Chelsea have got a remarkable 38 players out on loan, but who are the ones that have stood out so far this season?
Tammy Abraham has hit the headlines for Bristol City while Lewis Baker and Bertrand Traore have impressed in the Netherlands.
Here's a look at our pick of the six best Chelsea loanees so far this season - hit the video above to see some of their best bits…
Tammy Abraham (Bristol City)
Of all the Chelsea loanees it is Abraham who has caught the eye the most this season. The 19-year-old forward has scored 11 goals for Bristol City, including winners in all three rounds of the EFL Cup.
His form earned him his first call-up to the England Under-21s for matches against Kazakhstan and Bosnia & Herzegovina and also the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month award for August and September.
Bristol City boss Lee Johnson says Abraham is "top class" and thinks he could get into Chelsea's first team.
"If he continues this in his career, the world is his oyster," he said. "He is top class. He could get into Chelsea's team now. He's a poacher. His movement is very sharp and when he's energised and got the buzz he's a handful."
Lewis Baker (Vitesse)
After winning the Golden Boot as England Under-21s won the Toulon Tournament in the summer, Baker is spending a second successive season with Vitesse, where he has continued to impress.
He has scored four goals in the Eredivisie this season, including a brilliant long-range strike against Twente and a fantastic free-kick against Groningen. The 21-year-old hopes his experience will help him eventually become a Chelsea regular.
"It's just the start of the season but I need to keep doing my best every day and keep improving so I can get back to Chelsea, where I'd like to be," he commented.
"There are also a lot of players who have played out here and moved on to the Premier League. If I keep going the way I'm going that's one of my dreams I want to make come true."
Bertrand Traore (Ajax)
Traore, who scored four goals in 16 games for Chelsea last season, has returned to the Netherlands having also spent time with Vitesse in 2014/15.
He recently scored a fine solo goal against PEC Zwolle and is enjoying being played on the right by head coach Peter Bosz.
"On the right I can reach the same level as I have in past and also do things at a high pace," he said. "Here, attacking football is the focus. That's why I wanted to come to Ajax, and work with this coach."
Like Baker, Traore's long-term aim is still to return to Stamford Bridge. "The key is to develop so I can return to Chelsea."
Christian Atsu (Newcastle)
Goal on debut? Check. Man-of-the-match award? Check. Praise from the manager? Check. Christian Atsu certainly took his chance after getting in the Newcastle starting line-up ahead of Matt Ritchie against Rotherham.
"It was a special goal for me and for the team - I gave all my heart for Newcastle," he said afterwards. "I have waited for my opportunity. I've kept focused and kept fit. Rafa Benitez is a great man and I knew he would give me my chance if I worked hard."
Before starting against Rotherham, Atsu had only appeared for the Magpies from the bench this season.
But Benitez said: "It was what we were expecting from him, a player who can beat players and make a difference."
Kasey Palmer (Huddersfield)
He might be playing in a senior team for the first time, but Palmer has hit the ground running for Championship leaders Huddersfield.
From scoring the winner against Brentford on the opening day with his first touch, to being named in the EFL Team of the Week after netting against QPR, it's been a promising start to life on loan for the 19-year-old.
"He has some unbelievably good skills," says Terriers boss David Wagner. "We will try to develop them and I am very happy we have him in our squad."
After starting the season on the bench, the forward has been in the starting line-up for the last three games.
Andreas Christensen (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Now in his second season on loan with Gladbach, the young defender has established himself as a key first-team player. He made 39 appearances for the Bundesliga side in 2015/16 and has been a regular again this season.
With John Terry out of contract at the end of the season and Gary Cahill nearly 31, Christensen could be the future for Chelsea.
But he recently said: "I have not spoken with Chelsea about my situation. It is a difficult decision, which I have not thought about.
"Coming to the Bundesliga as a reserve player at Chelsea was a huge step for me, but I have to say I found my feet really quickly after that testing period."
