Relations between Leeds United and Chelsea are not in a good place after some unsatisfying loan moves in recent years, according to The Athletic's Phil Hay. 

The Whites have taken a number of players on loan from the Premier League side in recent years but they have all ended disappointingly.

Lewis Baker signed on a season-long loan in July 2018 but after playing less than 500 minutes of first-team football, the Blues recalled the midfielder early in January to send him out elsewhere.

Jamal Blackman also arrived at Elland Road on loan at the start of the 2018/19 campaign and made just two appearances for the Whites, with Chelsea recalling the goalkeeper in November 2018.

Izzy Brown was the third Blues player to be loaned to Leeds last season and though he wasn't recalled, he featured only twice–having spent much of the term injured.

It appears those deals have been detrimental to the relationship between the two clubs, which hasn't always been the best given their FA Cup run-ins during the 1970s and other meetings in England's top-flight.

In a Q&A for The Athletic, Hay was pressed on whether the Whites were in the running to sign recently recalled Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher.

He replied: "I'd be surprised. Relations between Leeds and Chelsea are not good since the Lewis Baker/Jamal Blackman/Izzy Brown sagas.

"I really don't see them sending more loanees to Elland Road any time soon."

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The Verdict

This is undoubtedly a blow for the Whites. The Chelsea academy is highly-regarded and some of their loanees have been amongst the most impressive players in the Championship in recent years–Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham, for example.

Leeds don't have a great record with Premier League loanees under Bielsa, with Arsenal's Eddie Nketiah and Tottenham Hotspur's Jack Clarke both being recalled this season.

There are certainly some positive stories, such as Brighton's Ben White and Manchester City's Jack Harrison, but you have to wonder whether clubs are starting to question whether it is the right place to send players.