A look at ten of the world’s most exciting young players that could help boost Chelsea’s title challenge next season.
10. Julian Draxler (Schalke)
The 19-year-old has enjoyed another highly successful season as a regular in Schalke’s first team and already has four caps for the star-studded German national side. With 11 goals and 7 assists this year, he has already attracted strong interest from Arsenal, and Chelsea would be wise not to miss out on a player who is certain to be a star of world football for many years to come.
9. Tom Ince (Blackpool)
The former Liverpool man has already been linked with a big-money return to Anfield after impressing at Championship outfit Blackpool. Unlike his father, former England captain Paul, the 21-year-old is a skillful attacking midfielder and winger, and has notched up an impressive 18 goals in the Championship this season – more, it must be said, than Wilfried Zaha, who was recently signed for big money by Manchester United. Tottenham have also been linked with the young Englishman, and he is likely to be in-demand this summer. Blackpool, however, are determined to hold out for big money for their prized asset, and that should give Chelsea the edge in any ensuing bidding war.
8. Will Hughes (Derby County)
Another big name emerging from the lower leagues is Derby County’s Will Hughes. The silky and skillful midfielder has attracted interest from the Premier League big boys, as well as Spanish giants Barcelona, after he was compared in his playing style with Xavi and Andres Iniesta. The 18-year-old would be an ideal long-term replacement for Frank Lampard, who is likely to leave Stamford Bridge this summer. However, Hughes himself might feel there clubs other than Chelsea who are more likely to give chances to young players. Perhaps a youngster of this calibre could convince the Blues to change their policy a little?
7. Koke (Atletico Madrid)
Despite being strongly linked with Atletico Madrid striker Falcao, Chelsea would do well to look at his team-mate Koke, the latest in the line of talented midfielders being produced in Spain. The 21-year-old has lit up La Liga with his displays this season, and a Spain call-up is surely not far away for the youngster. Koke would provide a decent alternative to the likes of Ramires and Mikel further back in Chelsea’s midfield, and would link up well with his fellow countryman Juan Mata.
6. Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)
Reus may only have been at Borsussia Dortmund for one season, but a number of top clubs will be keen to lure him away in the next transfer window. The versatile attacker can play on the wings or upfront, and has shown himself to be a consistent source of goals in the Bundesliga over the last couple of years. With Fernando Torres surely on the way out of Stamford Bridge, and Demba Ba struggling to reproduce his Newcastle form since joining the club, Chelsea could do worse than look to Reus to be their main goal scorer next year. The 23-year-old already has 15 caps and 7 goals for Germany, and with Dortmund’s financial troubles, there is probably an offer Chelsea could make to tempt them into selling.
5. Erik Lamela (Roma)
The 21-year-old Argentinian is finally starting to assert himself in Serie A after an indifferent first season. The attacking midfielder joined Roma from River Plate in 2011 and is starting to look like the exciting prospect that he is. Lamela has 15 goals in the league this year and if he keeps up this form he may feel he has outgrown the inconsistent Rome club. A skillful and pacey dribbler, he would give the likes of Eden Hazard and Oscar some healthy competition in Chelsea’s attacking midfield three.
4. Luke Shaw (Southampton)
The 17-year-old has enjoyed a terrific breakthrough season with Southampton, who showed tremendous faith in his ability in making him their first-choice left-back in their return to the Premier League. The England youth international is known to be a boyhood Chelsea fan, and has already been compared with the likes of Ashley Cole and Gareth Bale, the former establishing himself at Chelsea as probably the best left-back in the world, and the latter being one of many graduates from the Saints’ youth academy to become a Premier League star. Shaw has already been linked with Arsenal, but would surely favour a move to the club he supports. Chelsea might see him as a good long-term replacement for Cole, whose future remains uncertain despite him recently extending his contract with the club.
3. Stephan El Shaarawy (AC Milan)
Milan face a battle to hold on to star youngster Stephan El Shaarawy, who is Serie A’s third-highest scorer this season at only the age of 20. The full Italian international has attracted surprise interest from Milan’s rivals Napoli, who will have a great deal of money to spend when they surely sell Edinson Cavani at the end of the season. Arsenal are also keen on the attacker, who would add goals, assists, pace and skill from wide areas or upfront. Chelsea’s financial power should give them the edge in attracting the world’s best young talent, and El Shaarawy definitely falls into that category. After failing to replace the legendary Didier Drogba with flops Torres and Ba, El Shaarawy could be the Blue’s talisman for the next decade or more.
2. André Schürrle (Bayer Leverkusen)
Another supremely talented youngster coming from Germany, Schürrle has been strongly linked with a move to Chelsea in recent months. However, he has denied any contact with the club so far, and Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Völler is determined to hold on to his star player. It is thought that their hand may be forced with a bid of around £23.5million, and Chelsea youngster Kevin De Bruyne has also been rumoured to be part of the deal should it go through. The 22-year-old has a total of 13 goals and 7 assists so far this season, and has helped Leverkusen to an impressive 3rd place in the Bundesliga table.
1. Isco (Malaga)
Chelsea are one of many clubs being linked with Malaga star Isco. Still only 21, the attacking midfielder is up there with the best young players in the world at the moment. The Blues will have to fight off interest from other big spenders such as Manchester City and Real Madrid, but would land themselves a bargain whatever price they pay for Isco.
The Spaniard is a technically gifted midfielder with an eye for goal and would be the best possible candidate to replace the legendary Frank Lampard if he leaves at the end of the season. The former Valencia man recently won his first cap for Spain, and it will surely be the first of many despite the fierce competition ahead of him. With Malaga selling a couple of key players last year, their financial troubles should mean they’ll struggle to keep hold of Isco as well, and that’s something Chelsea should definitely look to pounce on.