Sorry man! as 25-year-old Chelsea man faces uncertain Chelsea future after Graham Potter makes major transfer decision
Given that the Swiss midfielder has yet to play a single minute for the Blues this season, Denis Zakaria’s future at Chelsea seems unknown.
Thomas Tuchel was eager to sign Zakaria, a 25-year-old who recently signed a deadline day loan deal with an option to purchase, to Stamford Bridge. Since Graham Potter took over for Tuchel as manager at Stamford Bridge, the Switzerland international has yet to appear in a matchday squad, which has led to rumors that his loan could be cancelled in the January transfer window.
Zakaria has acknowledged that he likes a challenge, but Potter has yet to be sufficiently impressed by him to give him a spot in the squad, much less a starting position.
As N’Golo Kante and Jorginho approach the final eight months of their current contracts at Stamford Bridge, it is believed that Chelsea will be keen to acquire a new central midfielder next summer.
Despite the fact that the Blues have the option to make Zakaria’s loan permanent for merely £26 million next summer, it appears that Potter does not have any immediate intentions to do so. Earlier this year, the 25-year-old opened out about the difficulty he is facing at Stamford Bridge in an interview with football.london.
Zakaria said: “It was not an easy solution. But in the end, I am a player and I also need this challenge to be better.
“For me, I am better when I take challenges. I like challenges. That’s why I am here. I want to prove I can do it and I will give my best that’s for sure. To change everything, like the language, is not easy but I think I can do it.”
Zakaria believes he will get chances to prove himself due to the Blues hectic fixture schedule and he is keen to show he deserves a spot in Chelsea’s first team. “We have a lot of games and I think every player will have their chance. It’s at that moment the player has to take their chance and play well,” he added.
“If you don’t do good, you don’t have the chance to stay. Chelsea is a big club and if you’re not good enough, you can’t stay at this club.
“I am here to prove that I deserve to be here, that I am a good player and I can help the team. That is the most important thing. I want to win trophies and help the team win. If I have the chance to play, I will give my 100% to help. That is the biggest point. We will see what happens at the end.”
Kante and Jorginho look set to leave the club on free transfers next summer, with the former being linked with moves to Premier League rivals Arsenal and Tottenham. If Zakaria is able to prove to Potter he can be a strong addition to his squad, then the Blues could well activate their option-to-buy clause for £26million as well as focusing on deals to sign one of Jude Bellingham, Frenkie de Jong and Declan Rice.