Chelsea receive ambitious request over £19m star as EFL rules explained

Cardiff City have submitted a request to Chelsea to play on-loan Omari Kellyman in next month's Carabao Cup quarter-final tie between the two sides, football.london understands.

The 20-year-old attacker - who was signed by the Blues in the summer of 2024 for around £19million from Premier League rivals Aston Villa - has made 11 appearances for the Bluebirds in all competitions as he continues his find his way to full fitness. Kellyman has featured in 11 of Cardiff's last 12 matches following his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Cardiff want him to feature against Chelsea when the two sides meet at the Cardiff City Stadium in their last-eight tie though permission is yet to be granted by the Blues. EFL rules state that a loan player can face his parent club if the two sides are drawn together, but only if they give written consent - and at the time of writing, the Bluebirds are not expected to get that.

• Bayern Munich make Nicolas Jackson transfer decision after Chelsea stand off
• What Enzo Maresca has said about Cole Palmer ahead of Chelsea injury return - 'I was wrong'

Kellyman has not yet played 90 minutes for the Welsh club this season. The youngster is still recovering from hamstring surgery he had back in March, and has shown glimpses of his talent during his brief time in south Wales.

However, there is an acceptance from Kellyman himself that there is still much more to come from him while on loan there, football.london understands. The former Villa man is enjoying his loan spell thus far, though, but might have to sit out when his parent club come to town on December 16.