New Chelsea football chief Michael Emenalo admits the loan system is an essential plank in their development structure.

Emenalo took over from the outgoing Frank Arnesen last summer.

"You want to send players on loan to gain experience and see where they are in their development," the Nigerian explained to cheleafc.com. "If they are in touching distance with the first team we like them to go to the Premier League and see how close they are, how mentally developed and tactically aware they are.

"We feel when we recruit these players it is because they have a certain quality that is above and beyond the average Premier League team, so we want them to go out and show that quality and gain experience."