21-year-old recalled from loan as Mauricio Pochettino makes huge Chelsea transfer decision

Cesare Casadei has been recalled by Chelsea from his Leicester City loan spell this month.

The 21-year-old has spent the first half of the season on loan with Enzo Maresca’s side, who are currently leading the Championship and seven points clear of Ipswich Town in second.

Casadei featured 25 times for the Foxes this term in all competitions, scoring three times. He has started their last two league matches.

However, like Chelsea did with Andrey Santos earlier in the window at Nottingham Forest, Mauricio Pochettino’s side have opted to recall the Italian midfielder, the club has confirmed.

It’s also been revealed by Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph that Casadei will head straight into Pochettino’s first-team squad at Cobham this month.

The full reasoning for Casadei’s departure currently remains unclear, however Chelsea have been suffering from several injury issues in midfield.

Romeo Lavia (thigh) and Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring) are both currently sidelined and their returns remain unclear. Lavia suffered a setback against Crystal Palace upon his return from an ankle injury, while Ugochukwu was forced off against Wolves last month.

Andrey Santos is away with the Pre-Olympic Brazil squad and his future is to be decided when he returns next month, both Andrey and Pochettino have confirmed.

In an interview with ge.globo, Andrey revealed: “It was my choice (the loan). Unfortunately it wasn’t how we all imagined. I imagined that I was going to play and so on, I was always ready, always well, but it was the coach’s choice, and I respect it.”

He added: “Regarding the conversation with Pochettino, we preferred to wait for this Pre-Olympic, to decide my situation.”