Antonio Conte rules out recalling Omeruo and Aina to Chelsea during January transfer window

CHELSEA manager Antonio Conte has ruled out recalling any of the five Nigerian players currently out on loan to other clubsides during the current transfer window dashing the hopes that the likes of Kenneth Omeruo and Ola Aina may see Premiership action this season.

At the moment, Chelsea has dozens of players out on loan and among them are Nigerians Ola Aina, Fikayo Tomori, Kenneth Omeruo, Ike Ugbo and Tammy Abraham. They have shipped out on loan both within England and across Europe in the hope that they get regular playing opportunities in smaller clubs.

Now that the January transfer window is open until the end of the month and Chelsea is looking to strengthen its squad, there have been indications that Mr Conte may want to recall some of the players. However, he has dismissed this suggestion, pointing out that the players were guaranteed starters for their clubs during the first half of the season.

Mr Conte said:  “I don’t think this could be realistic. The players we send on loan are playing.

“I don’t see a possibility for players to come back on loan. I remember last January with Ake, Kennedy and Musonda coming back to improve our squad.”

Omeruo, who plays for Kasimpasa in Turkey and Ola Aina, who plays for Championship side Hull City, are in contention to be named in Nigeria’s roster for the 2018 World Cup. Unlike the others, Tammy Abraham, who is on loan to Swansea City ion the Premiership, has pledged his allegiance to England and is hoping to make Gareth Southgate's World Cup squad.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles winger Victor Moses, has been named in the 2017 African Team of the Year by French football magazine France Football. Currently playing for Chelsea as a wingback, Moses was the only Nigerian that made the prestigious list which features top African players.

Egyptian and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and his club team mate Sadio Mané from Senegal are part of the list. Surprisingly, there was no spot for Gabon and Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was listed among the five substitutes.

Full list:

Essen El Hadary (Egypt, Al-Taawoun), Nabil Dirar (Morocco, Fenerbahce), Medhi Benatia (Morocco, Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal, Naples), Faouzi Ghoulam (Algeria, Naples), Victor Moses (Nigeria, Chelsea) , Naby Keita (RB Leipzig, Guinea), Jean-Michaël Seri (Ivory Coast, OGC Nice), Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool), Sadio Mané (Senegal, Liverpool), Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon, FC Porto).

Substitutes:

Fabrice Ondoa (Cameroon, AC Seville), Ahmed Hegazy (Egypt, WBA), Thomas Partey (Ghana, Atletico Madrid), Hakim Ziyech (Morocco, Ajax Amsterdam), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon, Borussia Dortmund).