Over the last few years, Chelsea youth teams have dominated every age bracket from the under 9’s to the u21’s.
Having been involved in seven of the last 9 FA Youth cup finals, winning 5 of them, there is no doubting the quality of Chelsea’s youngsters. The Under-21 side has also won the last two UEFA Youth League trophies, a competition that largely resembles the Champions League.
In fact, no other youth team in world football has even remotely had Chelsea’s phenomenal level of success at youth level.
This is a topic that frustrates a lot of us here at the tavern; if these kids are so good, why aren’t they playing in the Chelsea first team?
There are quite a few reasons for this, with the constant changing of managers perhaps the most crucial of these; if a manager is only staying for a couple of seasons, there is really no point investing in the youth of they aren’t going to bring immediate success.
Our punters here at the tavern are optimistic however; Antonio Conte is renowned for bringing through youth talent, and we’re hoping he might continue this trend when he arrives in London.
In fact, we’ve been having a chat with our landlord here in the Tavern, and he reckons the following FIVE players might just find themselves in the Chelsea first team under Conte next season…..
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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE 5 CHELSEA WONDERKIDS!
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Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Ruben Loftus Cheek is perhaps the most well known Chelsea youngster, given that he has been given a bit of an opportunity in the first team over the last year or two.
Despite this however, he is still yet to break through that glass ceiling, with managers hesitant to trust him over older, more experienced midfielders.
Things appear to be looking up for the young Englishman however.
Coming off of the back of the under-21 Toulon tournament this summer, in which England came out winners, he picked up the player of the tournament award; highlighting just how impressive he was.
This will have certainly caught the eye of Antonio Conte, with the young midfielder often drawing parallels with Paul Pogba for his range of passing and his powerful dribbling style.
Under Conte’s influence, the 2016/17 season might just be the season that Loftus-Cheek finally breaks out of the Chelsea shadow, cementing his place in the first team for years to come.
Lewis Baker
Another player that has gained a number of plaudits following his exploits at this summers Toulon tournament is Lewis Baker.
The young attacking midfielder picked up the golden boot at the award, after scoring four goals en route to Gareth Southgate’s side picking up the trophy.
Last season was a bit of a breakout for the midfielder, finding his feet on loan in the Eredivisie with Vitesse, amassing over 30 appearances for the Dutch side.
Next season could be the year that he finally makes it at his boyhood club, with the two-footed midfielder contributing something different than anyone else at the club, offering prolific set pieces, technical ability, and outstanding goals to match.
Dominic Solanke
Another player who spent last season on Loan at Vitesse, Dominic Solanke has been a prolific goal scorer at youth level.
In the 2014/15 season, he managed to amass 41 goals for the season for the youth side, topping the goal scoring charts throughout the developmental systems. He continued this at Vitesse, scoring 7 goals during his first season as a professional.
With reports suggesting that the young striker is looking for a bumper new deal with the blues, with some outlets suggesting that he is requesting as much as £50,000 per week; it appears to be a make or break season for the young Englishman.
Chelsea might be able to tempt his wage demands down should he be given a run in the first team, and with the expected exodus of Chelsea strikers this summer; he may just be given that opportunity.
Kenedy
Kenedy is a young Brazilian player that skipped Chelsea developmental, purchased in 2015 from Brazilian side Fluminense.
Currently 20-years-old, the attacking midfielder amassed 12 appearances in his debut season with the Blues, often being preferred to some key first team players towards the tail end of the season.
Offering utility as a wing back or an attacking midfielder, Kenedy fits in the side up and down the pitch; and this may be crucial should he get a chance in the Chelsea first team.
The young Brazilian was often considered the primary backup to any of the three attacking midfielders for the Blues, and should any of those players leave this summer, as they are expected to; our punters think he might just be next in line to cement his place in the side.
Bertrand Traore
Another player that largely skipped the Chelsea youth system, Bertrand Traore is a curious case.
Hailing from Burkina Faso, Bertrand Traore was signed by Chelsea in 2013, after years of rumours – yet was unable to play for the first team given his lack of a work permit.
He was subsequently shifted out to Vitesse, where he showed his class; scoring 17 goals in a near-50 game season
He returned to Chelsea last year, scoring a couple of goals, mostly as a substitute – but frequently made exciting and dangerous runs, often-splitting defenses.
He certainly isn’t yet the finished packagre, but last season was very significant for the young striker.
Under Conte, next season might just be the year that he finds his scoring boots in England; as he did in the Netherlands.
