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Transfer deadline day is almost upon us and Thursday has already seen three departures from Stamford Bridge.
Romelu Lukaku has completed a loan move to Roma, while youngsters Tino Anjorin and Zak Sturge have joined Portsmouth and Peterborough United respectively.
There remain a number of candidates who could leave the club before the window is closed, with Chelsea's loan army set to find a few new recruits. Summer signings Deivid Washington, unavailable for Chelsea's clash with AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup, and Lesley Ugochukwu have been touted for loans while Lucas Bergstrom could still depart the club, and a loan to Manchester United remains possible for Marc Cucurella.
However, Chelsea find their options limited with Lukaku taking up their sixth of seven international loan slots that FIFA allow. David Datro Fofana, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Angelo Gabriel, Gabriel Slonina and Hakim Ziyech have taken up those spots in addition to the Belgian.
The Blues are allowed more loan deals domestically, but FIFA only permits seven international loans, unless players meet two criteria.
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They say: "The loan of a professional will be exempt from the above limitations if: a) the loan occurs before the end of the season of the former club in which the professional turns 21; and b) the professional is a club-trained player with the former club."
Bergstrom and Bashir Humphreys would fulfil that criteria and be exempt of taking up an international loan slot but Ugochukwu and Washington would not. Trevoh Chalobah, who is of interest to Bayern Munich and the likes of Jamie Cumming and Malang Sarr would not.
