New Delhi: The winter transfer window is well and truly underway and just like that almost half on the winter window having already passed. News broke out last night that seems to have rocked the Chelsea camp and fanbase with reports stating that one of the club’s summer signing wants out after spending only six months at the club. Portuguese defender Renato Veiga is reportedly looking to quit the club this window despite being afforded regular game time.
The 21-year-old only joined the club in the summer, signing from Swiss side FC Basel in a deal worth €14 million. Virtually an unknown at the time of his transfer, the player has proven to be a shrewd signing for the club and has been a solid squad player during this time. He is a regular starter for Enzo Maresca in the UEFA Conference League and other club competitions but hasn’t been able to break into the first team and has been limited to mostly substitute appearances from the bench in the Premier League.
He’s played seven times in the league, starting once but has made 18 appearances in all competitions, playing over a 1000 minutes. A versatile player, he’s capable of playing both as a left-back and as a defensive midfielder, and also has the capability of playing as a center-back. However, despite being a young, valuable squad player for the club, why does the 21-year-old want to leave?
Why does Renato Veiga wish to leave Chelsea?
🚨👀 Renato Veiga, expected to leave Chelsea as club opened the doors to permanent exit — not loan.
Chelsea want around €30m for Veiga to leave accomodating his request to go and play as CB, not as LB.
🟡⚫️ Full agreement Borussia Dortmund-Veiga on contract/project, in place. pic.twitter.com/hyQRH3UC37
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 13, 2025
While he has been afforded limited game time, the competition for places is high at Chelsea and Veiga hasn’t yet done enough to dislodge Marc Cucurella from the starting lineup. However, the lack of game time in the Premier League is not the issue that has caused Veiga to quite the club, it’s the position he’s being played in that’s the reason for him wanting to leave. Despite being adept at both left back and defensive midfield, Veiga wants to play as a center back, something that Enzo Maresca doesn’t align with.
Veiga was signed due to his capability of playing as a left back that can invert into the midfield, something that Maresca wants his fullbacks to do and is the club’s second-choice left back. Chelsea currently have a shortage of center backs that has allowed Veiga to be deployed in that position on a couple of occasions but that isn’t the position where Maresca sees him long term.
The Portuguese defender, who made his national team debut while playing for Chelsea, wants to establish himself in the national team before the 2026 World Cup reportedly and feels he has a better chance of doing that away from Chelsea. The Portuguese national team has a lot of full-backs competing for the left-back spot with both Nuno Mendes and Nuno Tavares looking to make the spot their own but there’s a space for the center backs in the setup which Veiga wants to exploit.
Chelsea’s winter transfer business
Chelsea have not yet discounted signing Marc Guehi this month, even though it will be difficult and expensive. (@Matt_Law_DT) #CFC pic.twitter.com/tYTUbaETHh
— The Pride of London Chelsea (@PrideOfLdnCfc) January 13, 2025
With Veiga reportedly requesting to leave, Chelsea are open to letting the defender leave with clubs in Italy, France and Germany keen on signing the 21-year-old. The Blues want a permanent deal for the player and value him around the €30 million mark with German outfit Borussia Dortmund the most keen on the player. BVB are looking to get the player in on a loan with an option to buy and have reportedly already agreed terms with the defender.
Dortmund and Chelsea have a good working relationship having already exchanged quite a few players in the past and it seems like the deal might go through in the next few days. Chelsea are expected to get a replacement for Veiga with Lecce full-back Patrick Dorgu being linked with the club. The Danish International fits perfectly in Maresca’s system and has been having a great time in Serie A this season contributing to three goals and an assist in 19 league games.
The club are also on the lookout for a center back following lengthy injuries to both Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile leaving them short in that position. A move for former Chelsea defender Marc Guehi is being touted while the possibility of recalling Trevoh Chalobah from loan has also been explored. Either way, it looks like this injury crisis at Chelsea will ultimately effect Crystal Palace more with Chalobah out on loan at the Eagles.
Premier League outfit Chelsea were rocked by the news of one of their summer signings wanting to leave last night after only joining the club six months ago. Dive in to find out what happened behind the scenes! Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
