The future is bright, the future is Blue…
Jose Mourinho guided his Chelsea side to their first Premier League title in five years this term and did so at a canter, but the lack of homegrown talent used on the way to that triumph may be something of a negative to take from the current campaign.
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Of the 22 players who featured in Chelsea’s Premier League side in 2014/15 only two were graduates of the club’s academy, and one of these, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, only secured his first start in May. The other of course being club legend John Terry.
Chelsea’s youth team is however one of the most successful around, the side triumphant in not only the UEFA Youth League but also the FA Youth Cup, so it’s not as if the talent isn’t there.
Here are seven top quality youngsters who could make an impact next season, should Jose Mourinho give them the platform to demonstrate their talent.
Patrick Bamford
The England Under-21 man has had a stand-out campaign on loan at Middlesbrough, netting 19 goals to help his side to the Championship play-off final, and with neither Didier Drogba nor Loic Remy proving all that effective as back-up options to first choice striker Diego Costa there is perhaps a good chance Mourinho may feel the time is right to usher Bamford into his senior squad.
Ruben Loftus Cheek
The tough tackling central midfielder earned his Premier League debut against Liverpool earlier this month and did not disappoint. He rarely wastes possession, is calm on the ball and has a bright future.
Isaiah Brown
The former West Brom man is a versatile live-wire who operates most effectively out on the wing. The 18-year-old made his Premier League debut for the Baggies aged just 16 and is surely not far away from being handed a chance to impress in the Blues senior set-up. Brown also played a crucial role in Chelsea’s UEFA Youth League success this season.
Dominic Solanke
Solanke is a lethal striker who has bagged 41 goals this season at youth level, netting in every round of both Chelsea’s UEFA Youth League and FA Youth Cup triumphs. He earned his senior debut during the Blues’ 6-0 Champions League win over Maribor last October.
Jeremie Boga
Boga’s a creative midfielder who has represented Chelsea from Under 12 level all the way up to youth team level. Astonishingly, the youngster made his debut at Under-21 level whilst just 15, and is very highly rated.
Andreas Christensen
The lanky central defender was signed from Brondby in 2012 and has already been capped at Under 21 level by Denmark and has made two appearances for Chelsea this term, impressing in both FA and League Cup, whilst being used in a right-back role.
Nathan
The playmaker has recently completed his £4.5m move to Chelsea (via Daily Mail) and is the latest in a long line of fellow Brazilians in Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea squad. The 19-year-old attacking midfielder has already represented his national side at Under 20 level and may well be part of the West London side’s first team set-up in 2015/16.