The current loan system and the requirement for more home-grown players to feature in the top flight has been the topic of much debate over the past two weeks, and one club that could face implications of any changes to the current set-up are Premier League leaders Chelsea.
Only a handful of Blues players fit the home-grown player regulations that Football Association chairman Greg Dyke wants to implement in the near future. It's a ruling that would result in a player such as Cesc Fabregas, who is currently eligible to be classed under the home-grown rule after his time at Arsenal, losing his current status and forcing Chelsea to replace him with a player who has trained with an English club for three years before the age of 18.
Below, Sports Mole suggests five players that could soon find themselves in the first-team squad at Stamford Bridge.
1. Patrick Bamford
At the start of 2012, Chelsea invested in the signing of Patrick Bamford, who was handed a five-year deal after leaving Nottingham Forest, and it's a commitment that could potentially pay off for the Blues should they opt to include the 21-year-old in the first-team squad sooner rather than later.
Bamford, who has represented England at Under-18, Under-19 and Under-21 levels, impressed during loan spells at MK Dons and Derby County last season, before being sent out to Middlesbrough for a campaign to continue his development. A year in the Championship can make or break a player, but the forward has taken it in his stride, scoring 14 goals in 32 games to help the club maintain a top-six spot in the table.
With Didier Drogba now 37 and the future of Loic Remy unclear, Chelsea will soon have decisions to make regarding their strikers, and if Bamford can finish the season strongly both domestically and for the England Under-21s, he could be given a chance to impress next season.
2. Nathaniel Chalobah
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He may have failed to make an impact in his loan spell with Burnley at the start of this campaign, but Nathaniel Chalobah remains a player that Chelsea plan to introduce to the first-team squad. The 20-year-old signed a five-year contract in 2013, and although he has some way to go to feature on a regular basis, he still has time on his side.
Like many of the Chelsea up-and-comers, Chalobah was soon loaned out at the earliest opportunity, and his long-term deal came on the back of a successful loan period with Watford in the Championship in a season where they almost secured promotion to the Premier League. The past 18 months have been a bit stop-start for the long-serving England Under-21 international, but spells at Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough and Burnley would have all added to his game.
Since January, Chalobah has been earning regular first-team football at Reading under Steve Clarke, who would have been aware of Chalobah during his time as assistant at Stamford Bridge between 2004 and 2008. Although another season in the Championship is expected next year, he still possesses the attributes to eventually make it in West London.
3. Ruben Loftus-Cheek
While the majority of Chelsea's promising youth stars have been loaned out to other clubs, Ruben Loftus-Cheek looks like the one player who could remain at Stamford Bridge and be given the required experience in the first team. The midfielder has only recently turned 19, but manager Jose Mourinho has indicated that he is an admirer and plans to include him in the senior squad next season.
Loftus-Cheek has already had a taste of the big stage this season, making substitute appearances against Sporting Lisbon and Manchester City, but now all eyes will be on Mourinho to see if he follows up his positive words about the England Under-19 international and uses him as one of the backups to Nemanja Matic and Fabregas next season.
4. Lewis Baker
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At the start of the season, Mourinho told the media that he should be blamed should Lewis Baker not become a full international with England. A bold statement from the Portuguese, but the youngster, who starred for Chelsea's reserves last season, has found himself on the bench in the League Cup this season.
The plan had seemingly been for the 19-year-old to spend the second half of the campaign in the Championship, but after a temporary spell with Sheffield Wednesday didn't work out, the midfielder found himself at MK Dons, who are involved in a promotion campaign in League One.
The setback at the Owls could prove to be a blessing in disguise for Baker, who has netted twice in five appearances at MK Dons and looks set to feature regularly until May. It probably won't earn him a spot in a star-studded midfield set-up at Chelsea next year, but the Blues and Mourinho see lots of potential in Baker, and he could be given his chance in the future.
5. Todd Kane
After reaching the age of 21 having never featured in the Chelsea first team, Todd Kane is a player who has gone under the radar at Stamford Bridge, but the full-back will still have hopes of being handed an opportunity at the club next season.
Kane has made just 12 appearances this season for Bristol City and Nottingham Forest respectively, but he previously spent 18 months with Blackburn Rovers, a time which saw him rack up 41 appearances in the Championship.
Chelsea's defence is arguably their strongest area but what they lack is strength in depth. Branislav Ivanovic, Cesar Azpilicueta and Filipe Luis are usually expected to cover the two full-back positions, so the addition of Kane would not only provide extra backup, it would help the club fulfil the necessary criteria.
