One of Chelsea's young attackers plying his trade on loan elsewhere has confirmed his desire to leave the club permanently this summer.
Twenty-year-old Omari Hutchinson crossed the Arsenal-Chelsea divide to join the Blues on a free transfer in 2022, having turned down the chance to extend his contract at the Emirates.
The Jamaica international enjoyed a strong debut season with the Chelsea youth team, scoring seven goals and setting up eight more in 21 Premier League 2 fixtures alongside making two first-team appearances in the Premier League and FA Cup.
However, Hutchinson found himself behind Raheem Sterling, Noni Madueke, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku in the wingers' pecking order last summer and was loaned out to Ipswich Town for the 2023-24 campaign.
The Tractor Boys had only just returned to the Championship from League One, but they will incredibly be playing Premier League football again next season, achieving a second-placed finish behind champions Leicester City.
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Hutchinson wants permanent Ipswich move
Hutchinson has been instrumental in helping Ipswich return to the top flight for the first time since the 2001-02 season, contributing 10 goals and six assists from 44 Championship matches, but he is due to return to Chelsea this summer.
The 20-year-old is only under contract at Stamford Bridge for another year, though, and speaking to Sky Sports News after Ipswich sealed a top-two finish, he revealed that he wants to stay at Portman Road for a little while longer.
"I hope to stay at Ipswich Town also next season. We'll see my agent and the manager says... I am speechless. It's the best loan I could have ever imagined!," Hutchinson said.
It is unclear whether Chelsea would be prepared to sanction another loan or permanent Ipswich move for Hutchinson, who could instead be used as a makeweight in a deal for Napoli's Victor Osimhen.
A recent report claimed that the Blues are prepared to offer Romelu Lukaku and an unspecified young player in a part-exchange deal for the Nigerian attacker, but significant sales will have to be made first.
Which other Chelsea players could leave the club this summer?
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In order to offset heavy financial losses, avoid potential Profit and Sustainability Rules breaches and - above all - raise money for summer business, the Blues will be open to bids for several of their stars.
Other loanees besides Hutchinson and Lukaku who could be on the chopping block are Hakim Ziyech, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Armando Broja, while Ian Maatsen's move to Borussia Dortmund is expected to be made permanent.
Sales of home-grown stars for pure profit would be an ideal money-making tactic for Chelsea, and both Trevoh Chalobah and Conor Gallagher fall into that category, but the pair have been crucial players for Mauricio Pochettino in the latter stages of the season.
However, Gallagher's contract has not been extended beyond 2025, so Chelsea could be pressured into a sale this summer amid reports of interest from London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Thiago Silva is already confirmed to be leaving when his deal expires, and he could be joined out of the exit door by a forgotten man in Malang Sarr, who was not even named in Chelsea's Premier League squad for the 2023-24 season.
Ben Knapton
