Chelsea currently have 26 players out on loan this season, as you can see from this Daily Mail graphic below.
This got us thinking about who our best XI loanees would consist of. The transfer window produced many surprises, several of which were loan moves this summer. Here is the Balls best XI Premier League loanees 2014, in an unorthodox 3-4-3 formation.
1. Jamal Blackman (Chelsea - Boro)
OK, so finding a decent goalkeeper out on loan wasn't as easy as we first anticipated it might be. Jamal Blackman, 20, is a young goalkeeper in the Chelsea ranks. His move to Middlesbrough, mundane as it may be, fits the bill as a goalkeeper who can slot into this illustrious starting eleven.
2. Mauricio Isla (Juventus - QPR)
The Juventus wing back moved to QPR after just 29 appearances for the Italian giants in two seasons. With 53 international caps for Chile, Isla is a solid acquisition for Harry Redknapp and fits in well as another player who is too good for QPR.
3. Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea - Southampton)
The Chelsea full back worms his way into our eleven due to a severe lack of defenders who went out on loan this summer. This seems astonishing, given the insane amount of loan moves in the window. We have him at left back.
4. Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal - West Ham)
Jenko, as he likes to be called, fits in at centre back, despite normally slotting in at right back the Gooners. He plays here for the same reason Bertrand and Blackman make the squad at all. Fear not, our front seven will lift this shaky defence.
5. Alex Song (Barca - West Ham)
Alex freakin' Song. How Big Sam managed to bag this deal, we'll never know. At just 27, Alex Song is arguably at the peak of his career (although many would argue that ended upon his transfer to Barcelona). Still, Song has Premier League experience and will be a regular in the Iron's midfield. Furthermore, he's our starting defensive midfielder.
8. Frank Lampard (Chelsea - City)
Fat Frank gets in on merit. Whether he plays much for City this season, only time will tell. Lampard had 147 goals and 429 appearances for Chelsea, so it was quite a shock to see him move up north. Still a Blue I suppose, albeit Sky Blue. Lampard slots in at left centre midfield in our diamond.
7. Niko Kranjcar (Dynamo Kiev - QPR)
Just to Lampard's right is Niko Kranjcar. No transfer window involving a car window and Harry Redknapp is complete without Kranjcar moving clubs. This time, QPR signed the experienced Croat. It's a squad with plenty of experience between the players and staff and yet, I wouldn't be surprised to see them struggle again.
11. Ben Arfa (Newcastle - Hull)
A real coup for big Steve Bruce. Ben Arfa, while often frustrating, is a huge talent and one that many Premier League clubs would have loved to get their mits on. No doubt Ben Arfa wanted away from the sweaty palms of the silver fox that is Alan Pardew. We have Ben Arfa as our left winger.
10. Gaston Ramirez (Southampton - Hull)
Gaston was another fine singing for Bruce. The Uruguayan will slot into the number 10 role for us, just at the top of our fantastic diamond. Ramirez wasn't a huge hit with Southampton, perhaps because of the array of talents around him in the past. We expect him to flourish under his new chubby boss.
9. Kevin Doyle (Wolves - Palace)
As our bizarre formation struggles for work horses, Kevin Doyle enters the fray. The Corkman and transfer enthusiast will slot in on the right wing. Here, he will provide unrivalled bleached tips and assistance for his Italian fullback.
14. Javier Hernandez (United - Madrid)
Many United fans will be devastated to see the Little Pea go, but in reality, he was never going to start with Falcao, Rooney and RVP knocking about. That said, he's unlikely to start ahead of Ronaldo, Benzema or Bale in Madrid either. However, he's very welcome at the Balls Loanee XI. He's our target man and we'll even allow him his favourite number.
1. Blackman
2. Isla 4. Jenko 3. Bertrand
5.Song
7. Kranjcar 8. Lampard
10. Ramirez
9. Doyle 14. Hernandez 11. Ben Arfa
Picture credit: Sportsfile
