Chelsea have just been linked in the transfer rumour mill with the potential signing of an upcoming teenage star.
If you look at the pattern of Chelsea’s transfers under this ownership, there’s been a clear plan to bring top youngsters for the future to Stamford Bridge.
There’s a lot of young talent on the books at the Blues, albeit it’s left the first-team squad a bit short on experience this year. In fairness, journalist Simon Phillips reported on his Substack back in April that Chelsea plan to scrap their policy of only signing players aged 25 or under.
The Chelsea Chronicle is still onboard with the idea of snapping up talented youngsters, but there needs to be a blend of experience as well.
Chelsea looking at Championship teenager
The Daily Mail claims that Chelsea are eyeing Stoke City’s Sol Sidibe as a potential transfer target.
It is understood that the Blues have set their sights on the 17-year-old midfielder, born in 2007.
The report says that Chelsea, along with Rangers and AC Milan, are watching the teenage central midfielder.
Sidibe made eight first-team appearances this season for Stoke during his first taste of senior football, which has been enough for some high-profile clubs to start checking on him.
He’s come through the Stoke academy as a youngster and represented England’s Under-17s side. Where will his development continue next season, though?
Sol Sidibe is a ‘terrific talent’
Alex Neil, who was the previous Stoke manager to give Sidibe his first senior start, was full of praise for the youngster’s ability last year.
Neil told BBC Radio Stoke (9 August, 2023): “I thought his performance justified why he’s been with the first team all pre-season and why I played him in the game. I had no concerns over him. He’s a terrific talent but he’s also really mature, for being so young.
“He did exactly as I expected him to do – he did wonderfully well and he’s played in a Stoke team that won the game, and played the majority of the match. I think when you’re 16 years old, most players of that age could only dream of doing something like that.”