Chelsea defender will not be allowed to leave in January

Chelsea have decided that Andreas Christensen will not be allowed to leave the club in January despite growing frustrated under Maurizio Sarri this season, reports the London Evening Standard.

Christensen has dropped completely out of favour under Sarri this season after the Italian scrapped last season’s back three and installed David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger as his first choice centre-backs.

The Denmark international has already voiced his frustrations about a lack of playing time but the £40m-rated defender will not even be allowed to leave on loan in January despite reported interest from clubs around Europe.

Chelsea will give Gary Cahill the chance to find a new club at the turn of the year but Christensen may have to settle for a season on the bench unless there are injuries or a drastic loss of form from either Rudiger or Luiz.

The 22-year-old has been afforded playing time in Chelsea’s Europa League campaign, starting all four of their group games thus far. In fact, Christensen has completed the most passes in the competition this term (298).

Furthermore, of players that have made at least three appearances, Christensen ranks in the top-10 for pass accuracy (93.4%).