Could Victor Moses Return to Chelsea in January?

Nigerian winger Victor Moses has been no stranger to travel over the course of his playing career. The 28-year-old has spent most of his club career in England, where he has played for Crystal Palace, Wigan and Chelsea with loan spells at Liverpool, Stoke City and West Ham.

Moses has officially been a Chelsea player since 2012, but he has spent most of his career with the Blues on loan elsewhere. While he is well-travelled, Moses did wind up playing a key role in the Blues’ Premier League title-winning campaign in 2016-17. New manager Antonio Conte was impressed enough with Moses to give him a regular place in the squad, and the Super Eagles winger responded by scoring 4 goals across 38 appearances in all competitions that year.

However, Moses’ place in the side became less secure when Conte was sacked prior to last season. He quickly fell out of favour with Maurizio Sarri prior to last season, and he failed to impress Frank Lampard enough to earn a role with the club this season. So, Moses has spent the past couple of seasons on loan once again, this time with Fenerbahce in Turkey.

He was loaned to the Turkish side for the second time on an 18-month deal back in January, but there are new reports that suggest the contract could be cut short. Moses has appeared in just 6 games for Fenerbahce so far this term, though his playing time has increased of late. The player did make 4 appearances in November, but he has been absent from Ersun Yanal’s side over the last few games.

Moses has been plagued by an injury for most of the season, which has negatively affected his form. Moses was an impactful player under Conte at Chelsea after spending most of his time playing as an attacking wing-back on the right side of the pitch, but he has struggled to regain that form since leaving Stamford Bridge.

As a result, Fenerbahce are reportedly considering terminating his loan once the transfer window opens again in January. What becomes of Moses once he potentially returns to London remains to be seen. Lampard currently has the Blues sitting fourth in the Premier League table on 29 points through 16 matches.

While Chelsea are well off the pace of Liverpool at the top of the league, the side still retains an excellent chance of securing a spot in next year’s Champions League.

Most of the betting sites listed at GamblingSites.org have the Blues with favourable odds to finish in the top-4. Liverpool (-100000) and Manchester City (-20000) are understandably heavy favourites to secure spots in the top-4 of the table, followed by Leicester City (-700) and Chelsea (-250). Tottenham Hotspur, who recently hired former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, are at +200 to nab the fourth and final Champions League position.

While Moses clearly has the talent to help the team, it’s hard to imagine there is much playing time available to him if he were to return to the club.

Marcos Alonso remains entrenched as Lampard’s first choice left-back, while 26-year-old Reece James has recently taken a regular position at Moses’ old position on the right.

The Blues are well-stocked in midfield, as well, with N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount filling the central area of the pitch. Willian and Christian Pulisic have become regular starters for Lampard, as well.

Moses is a player that deserves regular first-team football, but he would be forced to operate as a substitute if he were to return to Stamford Bridge this season. His return to Chelsea would have made more sense under the Blues’ transfer ban, but the ban has since been lifted. As a result, the team is free to sign new players in January.

The player was reportedly interested in leaving Chelsea on a permanent basis in January before the club once again shipped Moses back to Turkey. Considering he has shown a capability to play a crucial role for a successful side, there figures to be no shortage of interest in Moses if Chelsea were to make him available next month.

Manchester United have been long rumoured to have interest in the winger, and oddsmakers have the Red Devils as prohibitive +300 favourites to secure his signature if he does make a move. Crystal Palace, Moses’ youth club, are at +1000, followed by Everton (+1200), Wolves (+1200) and Arsenal (+1300). Wigan, who have sunk all the way to near the bottom of the Championship table, are relative long shots at +2500.

Moses has scored 7 goals across 87 appearances in the league for Chelsea since arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2012 following a successful spell at Wigan.

He came up through the England youth system before pledging to play for his native Nigeria at the senior international level. Moses made his debut for the Super Eagles in 2012, and he has bagged 12 goals in 38 all-time appearances for his home nation.