£8.5m Chelsea defender set for loan exit: Millwall, Derby County & West Ham should be on alert | OneFootball

Chelsea full-back Caleb Wiley is set to go out on loan before the transfer window closes

Caleb Wiley has had a rough couple of years since making the switch from the MLS to Chelsea.

The 21-year-old cost the Premier League giants £8.5 million two summers ago, signing him from Atlanta United, where he'd already made 85 senior appearances as a teenager.

Unfortunately, due to the sheer volume of talent that Chelsea have signed under the BlueCo ownership, the majority of those exciting young talents can often get left by the wayside. Wiley is one of them, but injuries haven't helped his cause at all.

The American full-back has looked solid when fit while on loan at Strasbourg and then Watford in the Championship. A decent end to the 2024/25 campaign at Vicarage Road prompted the Hornets to loan him back for the full year last summer, but a back injury curtailed his campaign after just five appearances in October.

Now, according to The Athletic, Wiley is ready to be loaned out to an EFL side yet again in what seems like a bit of a make-or-break season in terms of staying fit for a whole season. These Championship sides should be looking to bring him in.

Millwall

Action images

Millwall's first-choice left back is a former Chelsea academy man in Zak Sturge, who had a brilliant breakout campaign last season as Alex Neil's side went close to earning promotion to the Premier League.

In reserve, though, is Alfie Doughty, someone who not only offers a lot going forward in a wide midfield sense, but is also someone who has struggled to stay fit for long periods in recent seasons.

The 26-year-old has played just 26 and 25 games, respectively, in the last two Championship terms for Luton Town and at the Den last year, and has begun the current campaign on the shelf, too, nursing a hamstring injury.

For extra depth on the left side, Wiley could be a good option, and would ensure that a Millwall side that has started the campaign on the front foot can maintain that level of quality needed throughout a long season when injuries begin to hit more frequently.

Derby County

Action images

Derby County have been one of the more unfortunate Championship sides when it comes to injuries already this season, with the likes of Patrick Agyemang, Matt Clarke and even Sammie Szmodics, albeit the latter is only out for a few weeks, missing time.

Above all, though, is the hamstring injury to first-choice left-back Derry Murkin, which will keep him out of action for four months. That leaves Derby's options on the left side of the back four as Charlie Taylor, who turns 33 next month, and 37-year-old Craig Forsyth.

The Rams need some youthful exuberance at left-back while Murkin recovers, so bringing in Wiley on loan could prove to be a smart decision for the club, helping plug that gap and perhaps even providing solid competition when the 27-year-old comes back.

Murkin was a stronger defensive option than Wiley has shown himself to be capable of, but the American can provide a different attacking edge to Derby's left side, while working under John Eustace can help improve his defensive ability.

West Ham United

Action Images

West Ham United haven't made the best start to life back in the Championship, with the former Premier League side still in the process of letting players who feel they are top-flight level leave, making incomings a little slower.

One player in the process of departing is El Hadji Malick Diouf, who has been the subject of interest from Brentford. Right now, academy graduate Ollie Scarles is the only natural replacement.

The 20-year-old has started in three of the first four competitive games for the Hammers and was rested on Tuesday night against Southampton for fellow youngster Ezra Mayers.

Wiley is seen as a young prospect, too, but he has much more senior experience than the current left-back crop at the London Stadium. This season could prove to be a real breakout year for Scarles, especially, but having the Chelsea man on loan would ensure quality competition for his place.