Chelsea: Patrick Bamford and Nathaniel Chalobah set to be recalled due to lack of game time on loan

Chelsea are pondering whether to recall Patrick Bamford and Nathaniel Chalobah from their loan spells at Crystal Palace and Napoli respectively. The duo have struggled to get regular game time, and this is a cause for concern for the Blues, who were keen for them to further their football education during the season-long loan spell.

Bamford, who moved to Palace in the summer, despite interest from various clubs at home and abroad to sign him, has failed to nail down a regular place, playing just 16 minutes thus far this season in the Premier League. The 22-year-old striker has had successful loan spells with Derby and County and most recently with Middlesbrough last season, when he scored 17 goals in 38 games for the Championship club.

Chalobah, who is also highly rated by coaches at Stamford Bridge, is facing a similar situation at Napoli in the Serie A. He has featured just once, when he made a five-minute cameo during a Europa League game against Legia Warsaw.

According to the Mirror, the club will cancel their contracts with the respective loan clubs in January if their plight does not improve. The Blues are keen to see their players get regular game time. It is expected that Chalobah will be loaned out to a club in England, while Bamford could also have multiple options from clubs in the Championship.

Meanwhile, Chelsea youngster Nathan Baker, who is on loan at Dutch club Vitesse, has revealed that he is learning a lot in the Eredivisie and is confident that he will come back to Stamford Bridge a better player next season. The England youth international has made 10 starts for the Dutch club, scoring two goals.

"I'm really enjoying it, the football is slightly different and is a lot more technical and tactical out there," Baker said, as quoted on Chelsea's official site.

"When we play the bigger teams, it's also a physical game. I've already learned a lot in the first few months and hopefully that can increase and next season, I'll return to Chelsea as a better player," he added.