Four Chelsea loanees win Player of the Year awards – but will any of them get a first team place next season?
Fikayo Tomori, Michael Hector, Nathan Baxter and Reece James were named their clubs' top stars for 2018-19
CHELSEA'S current loan army will be licking their lips at the prospect of some first-team action back at their parent club in 2019-20.
After all, the Blues are under a transfer ban starting this summer and running through until July 2020.
With boss Maurizio Sarri unable to make any additions to his squad in the coming two windows, he may be set to turn to a host of youngster currently out on loan.
And he's got plenty to choose from, with no fewer than 41 players shipped off during the 2018-19 season.
But the good news for Chelsea fans is this... four of those players won the Player of the Year award for their respective clubs.
Reece James is arguably the star most likely to break into the Blues' starting XI next season - and is being chased by a host of Premier League rivals already.
The right-back played 45 of Wigan's 46 matches, starting 44 of them as he won the Latics' Player of the Year gong.
James, 19, scored three times, added three assists and made 94 tackles in an incredible breakout season.
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Derby's strong centre-back Fikayo Tomori won the Player of the Year award for Frank Lampard's Championship playoff contenders, after playing 44 times.
Tomori, 21, made a superb 2,517 passes at an 83 per cent success rate, while winning 124 aerial battles for the Rams - to go with 69 interceptions.
Michael Hector - another promising centre-half - won Sheffield Wednesday's Player of the Year trophy with 37 matches under his belt.
The more experienced Hector, 26, amazingly won 126 aerial duels in just 36 starts as he impressed in Yorkshire.
Down in League One and Nathan Baxter clinched Yeovil's Player of the Year gong, playing 34 times, making an impressive 121 saves.
James clearly has the most chance of breaking into Sarri's plans next season, with many seeing him as the natural long-term successor to Cesar Azpilicueta.
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But with the Blues defence looking shaky at times this season, Tomori too is well in with a shout.
Hector won't be far behind the Derby star, either, at this rate - with David Luiz set to leave the club.
Meanwhile, in goal, Baxter may need at least a season either in the Championship or even a Premier League rival to prove his worth before Sarri considers him a viable option.
Despite an horrific run of form to end the season, Chelsea somehow managed to clinch a Champions League spot for next season - thanks to the struggles of Manchester United and Arsenal.
With at least six more huge games to come in the autumn-winter months, Sarri will need a bigger, stronger squad - and these four could just fit the bill.
