Chelsea refuse to loan players to some English clubs after broken promises over first-team action, Bristol City chief operating officer Mark Ashton has claimed.
Tammy Abraham, 18, joined City on a season-long loan at the beginning of August and he has made an immediate impact at Championship level, scoring five goals in his first seven appearances in all competitions.
He is among 38 players that Chelsea have sent out on loan this season, of which 19 are currently registered with clubs in the English football pyramid.
But Ashton says that the Blues' hierarchy took some convincing before allowing one of their most prized academy prospects to join his club, having been stung by previous agreements where English clubs failed to live up to their promises of giving on-loan youngsters regular first team experience.