Chelsea facing awkward situation – Youngster trains away from River squad
Chelsea are having to leave Kendry Páez in limbo as they work on his next move. The Ecuadorian is now stuck in a very awkward situation at River Plate.
The 19-year-old’s loan is effectively over in all but name. River no longer want him, and he is no longer part of manager Eduardo Coudet’s plans.
Despite expectations that he would return to England after the World Cup, Páez has remained in Argentina. Meanwhile, Chelsea are still searching for his next destination.
That leaves one of the club’s brightest young talents training on his own, with no clear end date in sight.
Left out and waiting
Argentine outlet TyC Sports and Ecuador’s The Diary both report that Páez has rejoined River’s training base after his post-World Cup break. However, he is not training with the first-team squad.
Instead, he has been placed with the group of players training separately from the senior squad while they wait to leave the club. It is a clear indication that River consider his time there finished.
Chelsea and the Argentine side are still working to terminate the loan early, but the process has not yet been completed because the Premier League club want Páez’s next move lined up before giving the green light.
For now, that means the youngster remains in an uncomfortable position. He belongs to Chelsea. He has no future at River but still has nowhere else to go.
Chelsea trying to avoid another setback
River also have their own reasons for wanting the situation resolved quickly.
Páez occupies one of the club’s foreign-player spots. Therefore, his departure is an important part of their squad planning before the transfer window closes.
Chelsea, meanwhile, appear determined not to rush into another decision. This comes after two disappointing loans in the space of a year.
His spells at Strasbourg and River failed to deliver the regular football or development the Blues had hoped for. Consequently, the club are taking more time over what comes next.
Recent reports have linked Atlético MineiroBelgian side KV Mechelen and newly-promoted Premier League club Ipswich Town with potential loan moves.
Until one of those options – or another destination – becomes concrete, Páez is expected to remain in Argentina, training away from River’s first-team squad and waiting for Chelsea to decide where his career goes next.
It is far from the ideal scenario for a player once viewed as one of South America’s biggest prospects, but Chelsea now have the responsibility of ensuring the next move finally provides the stability his career has been missing.
