Evening Standard
·22 January 2024
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Yahoo sportsEvening Standard
·22 January 2024
Diego Moreira will re-join Chelsea this week after his loan spell at Lyon was cut short.
The 19-year-old winger will return to Mauricio Pochettino’s squad after starting just four games and making a total of nine appearances for Lyon in the first half of the season.
Moreira, a Portugal Under-21 forward, made his Chelsea debut against AFC Wimbledon in the League Cup in August and cannot play for a third club this season.
He joined Chelsea on a free transfer from Benfica last summer and will offer another attacking option to Pochettino, with limited funds available to enter the transfer market in January.
Chelsea have also recalled 21-year-old midfielder Cesare Casadei from a loan spell at Leicester.
The Italy Under-2s international has played in both domestic cup competitions with Leicester and is cup-tied for matches against Middlesbrough and Aston Villa this week.
He would be available to face Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League next week, having yet to make his competitive Chelsea debut.
Despite his initial unavailability, Pochettino hopes Casadei will immediately boost Chelsea's training level in a crucial week which could define their season.
Pochettino has previously explained that injury issues have hampered his attempts to create internal competition for places, with academy players often making up the numbers on the bench.