When Chelsea make a major signing, the Twitter reaction is generally positive among the clubs’ supporters. However, some fans question whether the funds could have been better allocated elsewhere when factoring in the array of talent that the Chelsea academy possesses. One of the best academies in the country, the Blues certainly know how to produce professional footballers.
Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Trevoh Chalobah have progressed into the first team after working their way up through the Chelsea academy system. While Mount has progressed the most out of the current crop of youngsters, other talents are emerging at the club that could potentially make a similar impact to that of Mount.
Mount’s rise from academy prospect to first-team regular has been impressive, with the talented midfielder capable of changing games in an instant while also providing fans with the confidence needed when it comes to making title predictions, be it with friends in a WhatsApp group or when it comes to assessing the Premier League odds. Mount is capable of firing Chelsea to glory and the side is certainly weaker when he isn’t in it. But, alongside Hudson-Odoi and Chalobah, Mount isn’t the only Chelsea graduate that is aiming to impress Thomas Tuchel.
Given the clubs’ excellent strategy for snapping up and developing youth talent, there are a number of promising youngsters that will be hoping to make an impact at first team level shortly. While this season might come too soon for some of them, a successful loan move elsewhere could result in a January recall at the very least. With that in mind, let’s assess three young stars that could feature for Chelsea sometime in the season.
Levi Colwill
While most fans will be assessing Levi Colwill in pre-season, there is enough evidence from his spell with Huddersfield in the Championship to suggest that he’s more than capable of making the step up to the Chelsea first team this season. After impressing during the Terriers’ play-off push, Colwill’s stock immediately rose. As such, the talented centre-back is now widely regarded as one of the country’s best young defenders.
Learning alongside the likes of Thiago Silva and Kalidou Koulibaly will surely benefit the future of Chelsea’s defence moving forward, although he might have to bide his time before he can shine in a Blues shirt. Make no mistake about it, though, Levi Colwill is a remarkable talent. Huddersfield fans will tell you that.
Harvey Vale
Despite Harvey Vale being a tad behind Levi Colwill in his developmental journey, there are signs that he could potentially get some game time this campaign, although a loan move is probably more likely.
The 18 year-old prodigy is a versatile attacking player with bags of ability on the ball, making him one of the most exciting prospects at the club. Vale, who will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of the aforementioned Mason Mount, is expected to break into the first team equation at Chelsea eventually, but could his time come this season?
Conor Gallagher
If there is a player who is potentially guaranteed to cement himself into the first team picture at Chelsea this season, then it’s Conor Gallagher. An obvious choice, the former Crystal Palace loanee shone in the Premier League last season and has recently broken into Gareth Southgate’s England plans.
Although Jorginho and Kante aren’t necessarily the future of Chelsea’s midfield, Conor Gallagher most definitely is.