A new FIFA law on loan deals could force Chelsea to drastically change the way they manage their squad.
According to a report by Bild, football's international governing body is planning to restrict the number of players sent out on loan to eight per season. Chelsea currently have 40 players temporarily plying their trade elsewhere.
The proposed limit would chiefly apply to players over the age of 21, with homegrown youngsters exempt.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino roughly outlined the move in February, saying: 'It is important to establish a few rules as a limitation of squad sizes or the number of players out on loan.'
Chelsea's business model in the transfer market has long seen the club sign talented youngsters to loan them out, with the long-term goal either being to prepare them for the Blues first team or sell them for a healthy profit.
Among the most notable players currently on loan from Chelsea are £40million midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, 23-year-old defender Kurt Zouma and Belgium international striker Michy Batshuayi.
Before Matej Delac left Stamford Bridge to sign permanently for AC Horsens this summer, the goalkeeper, 26, had been Chelsea's longest-serving player despite never actually featuring in a senior game for the club.
Delac spent eight years on the books at Chelsea and was loaned out 10 times