Gianfranco Zola is a very popular man amongst Chelse fans. The little Italian was, for fans watching in the 90s and early 200s, the poster boy for the Blues, and he always dazzled with his ability on the field and his compassion off of it. Now, he’s back at the club as Maurizio Sarri’s assistant, and according to reports, he’s done something that is sure to make him even more popular.
It’s a testament to Hudson-Odoi’s quality for Zola to apparently be the man behind the decision, and that offers up all sorts of opportunities for young players.
Rarely at Stamford Bridge do young players get a chance, but could Zola be about to start a trend?
Here are 2 other Chelsea youngsters that Zola should recommend to Sarri…
Kasey Palmer has enjoyed a brilliant few years on loan, and he looks more than ready for a step up.
He has impressed for the likes of Derby County and Huddersfield over the last few years, and that’s on the back of a very solid spell in the Chelsea academy.
A tricky attacker, he’s similar to Callum Hudson-Odoi in that he’s a technically gifted offensive midfielder with bags of quality.
Able to play across the midfield and attack, he’d be a potent weapon for Sarri.
Tammy Abraham is in a similar position to Kasey Palmer at present.
He’s on the back of a decent if unspectacular season at Swansea City, where he showed his potential in bursts.
The good news for him, though, is that there is a genuine spot in this squad for him. Chelsea’s strikers – Michy Batshuayi, Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud – have hardly set the world alight over the last few years, and it would be fair to say that a lot of fans want to see a change.
Abraham looked sharper than Morata during Chelsea’s pre-season game against Perth Glory, and perhaps Gianfranco Zola and Maurizio Sarri saw that.
He’s a natural goalscorer.
