Chelsea youngsters Bashir Humphreys and Mason Burstow set for Championship loans

Chelsea youngsters Mason Burstow and Bashir Humphreys are set to continue their development in the Championship this season.

According to the Evening Standard, Burstow is set to join Sunderland on a season-long loan, while Humphreys is en route to Swansea City on a similar deal.

Burstow has trained with Mauricio Pochettino’s first-team squad since pre-season, with the youngster playing second fiddle to Nicolas Jackson.

The 20-year-old was an unused substitute in the friendly clash against Brighton & Hove Albion but featured in subsequent games against Newcastle United and Fulham.

He scored his first goal in a Chelsea shirt in the 1-1 draw against Borussia Dortmund in the final game of the United States pre-season tour and has been part of Pochettino’s squad since.

Burstow was an unused substitute in Chelsea’s 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on the opening Premier League weekend.

However, he featured in subsequent games against West Ham United and Luton Town before making his first competitive start in the 2-1 Carabao Cup second-round victory over AFC Wimbledon.

With Armando Broja’s recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury picking up a head of steam, the Blues have decided Burstow will be better off continuing his development away from Stamford Bridge.

He will be joined in the English second tier by fellow academy graduate Humphreys, who is expected to link up with Swansea for the 2023/24 campaign.

The 20-year-old was also part of the Blues squad during pre-season and left a lasting impression on Pochettino, who was giving serious consideration about retaining him in his side.

However, with Reece James and Benoit Badiashile accelerating their recovery from injury, Humphreys is expected to head out on a temporary switch in search of regular senior action.

Norwich City and Stoke City were also keen on the defender, but he has opted to move to Wales.

Ian Maatsen has also been strongly linked with a return to Burnley this summer, with the Clarets launching an official proposal to snap him up permanently.