Romeu leaves on loan for the season - Mikel given a lifeline?

A surprising development this morning as Chelsea confirm that Oriol Romeu has joined Stuttgart on a season long loan not so long after signing a new three year contract. Does this mean Mikel will get his wish and remain at Chelsea?

Personally, I really thought that after spending last season on loan at Valencia, Oriol Romeu would be given a chance to fight for one of those holding, deeper midfield places this season.

With him being involved in pre season and as I said earlier, fresh from signing a new contract, you have to wonder what the clubs intentions are with him from next season onwards?

So that leaves Mikel and his place within the squad after there had been speculation a few weeks ago that Chelsea were prepared to let him go for as little as £5m. If Romeu has now moved on, that leaves Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas, Ramires, Mikel and Marco Van Ginkel as options for those two deeper midfield positions if the manager decides to stick with our 4-2-3-1 formation.

Now looking at those five players above, and looking at the important away games such as Arsenal, City, Liverpool and United, you would have to look at the approach Jose Mourinho adopted last season. You will remember at the Etihad for example, David Luiz pushed further forward and partnered Nemanja Matic with great effect in those areas. Could we see the Matic/Mikel combination there this season?

I personally believe that Mikel's defensive qualities are important when the manager looks at the options he has available and if you look at the other options in those positions excluding Matic, Mikel IS the more naturally defensive player and gives the manager cover for Matic.

I still believe that Jose Mourinho will change the way we play in certain games of the season to the 4-3-3 formation. In that instance, you would favour Matic to start with people like Fabregas and Ramires playing either side of him with a licence to push forward.

I still believe that we will see more players leaving on loan or on permanent deals before the window closes and I still would not rule out Mikel being sold but I just wonder if the manager is happy to keep him at the club to step in as and when needed.

Let's hope Romeu's loan works out for him!