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Christian Atsu is among a crop of Chelsea players on loan to Vitesse Arnhem

Chelsea's links with Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem are being investigated by the Dutch Football Federation.

It follows the claim in a newspaper from a former Vitesse owner that Chelsea did not want the side to qualify for the Champions League.

Chelsea have forged a close playing relationship with the Dutch club in recent years and sent players on loan.

Uefa rules say two clubs under the same ownership cannot play in the same competition.

The Dutch Football Federation has contacted Vitesse to seek further information and will also look into the ownership of the side.

Merab Jordania, the former major shareholder at Vitesse, told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that Chelsea had discouraged Vitesse from winning the Eredivisie title to avoid qualifying for the Champions League.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has links with Vitesse Arnhem's Alexander Chigrinsky

Vitesse's current owner, Alexander Chigrinsky, is an associate of Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovich.

Lucas Piazon, Bertrand Traore, Patrick van Aanholt and Christian Atsu are currently on loan at Vitesse as Chelsea aim to give experience to a number of their young players.

Forward Gael Kakuta, 22, spent last season and the first half of the current campaign at Vitesse before being recalled in January and loaned to Lazio.

Defender Sam Hutchinson, 24, was also recalled from his loan spell there in January and is now on loan at Sheffield Wednesday.

Vitesse are currently third in the Dutch league, having won just three of their last 10 games.

Gael Kakuta spent the first half of the season at Vitesse

Last July, Ajax sporting director Marc Overmars said his club had been denied the opportunity to speak to Vitesse midfielder Marco van Ginkel about a possible move because of Chelsea's "co-operation agreement" with Vitesse.

Van Ginkel signed for Chelsea on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee, but has made only four senior appearances so far this season after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury last September.

The 21-year-old recently returned to action in Chelsea's under-21 side.

Chelsea have not commented publicly on the matter.