The Blues let the attacker leave for Sassuolo in 2018, and could trigger their buyback clause for the improved Ivory Coast international this year.

Careers can turn on moments, and Jeremie Boga’s time at Chelsea may well have turned out differently if one specific match had gone another way for the Ivory Coast international.

The Sassuolo wideman left Chelsea in 2018 after lan deals with Stade Rennais, Granada and Birmingham City from 2015, but things might have panned out differently if the Blues’ encounter with Burnley at the start of the 2017-18 season had gone according to plan.

Antonio Conte failed to truly improve his team during a frustrating summer window, and Boga was a shock inclusion from the start against the Clarets, only to have his debut cut short after 18 minutes following Gary Cahill’s early red card.

Even though the general consensus was that the ex-Juventus boss was sending a message to the board with his selection at Stamford Bridge, an extended period on the pitch may have led to the talented Ivory Coast international making an impression, proving his worth, and staying at Stamford Bridge, rather than be cast off to Birmingham.