Chelsea’s bizarre decision shows the dangers Leicester City may need to explore again

On the final day of the Premier League season, Cesare Casadei replaced Cole Palmer in the dying moments of Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Bournemouth. He took a grand total of 79 minutes of pitch time under Mauricio Pochettino.

When Casadei was recalled by Chelsea in January, much to the surprise and frustration of Enzo Maresca, it seemed that the young Italian midfielder must be intent on playing a decent role at Stamford Bridge. After all, he was about to embark on a string of games at Leicester City as a regular starter.

Wilfred Ndidi had been injured for several months and that had opened the door for Casadei, who, as a more physical option than Dennis Praet and Yunus Akgun, was preferred by Maresca. For Chelsea to choose against this development, they must have had a plan for him, it seemed.

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Instead, he made 11 substitute appearances and no starts, his longest outing being a 16-minute run-out in a win over Tottenham. How much the 20-year-old would have learned from those minimal opportunities is unclear.

But it did teach City a lesson, one of the dangers of loaning out players. It’s likely something to keep an eye on this summer, with several short-term deals possible.

Financial constraints at City mean it will be a “low-key” transfer summer, Maresca said. A spending spree is not expected, so loan offers may be needed to strengthen the squad.

Because taking promising youngsters is not out of the question just because City are in the Premier League. This season, Burnley have had David Datro Fofana from Chelsea, while James McAtee has spent the campaign on loan from Manchester City to Sheffield United.

City are likely to be far enough from contention not to be considered a rival to the top clubs, and with the style of football they are playing under Maresca, they remain an attractive location to send prospects to learn their trade. It is definitely a market to watch.

But the disaster at Casadei shows the problem they could face. When City lost the Italian and did not replace him, it was a point of struggle for Maresca for the rest of the season. It upset the balance in his team and left him short of options. In his postseason assessment of the “things he didn’t like,” it came out.

However, it is a risk the city should take again. It may be the best way to strengthen the squad on the cheap, even if it leaves them to the whims of the big clubs’ decisions. City can assess a club’s strength in depth and determine how likely a player is to be recalled mid-season. But even then, you risk losing someone so that they can play 79 minutes in five months for the parent club.

What is the most important transfer for City to make this summer? Let us know in the comments section below.