From Ampadu to Hudson-Odoi: the four Chelsea youth products most likely to get minutes under Maurizio Sarri

in , , , , , , ,

Chelsea kicked off life under Maurizio Sarri on Monday afternoon with a 1-0 win over Perth Glory.

While Pedro may have scored the only goal of the game, the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ethan Ampadu stole some of the headlines for their good performances.

Chelsea have arguably the best youth academy in English football with the club having won seven of the past nine FA Youth Cups – and five in a row – but only a handful of the players in these successes have gone on to make appearances for the first team, with even fewer remaining at the club.

Over the past 15 seasons under the ownership of Roman Abramovich, the Blues have been known to fork out large transfer fees to improve their squad, including just last summer when they spent roughly £235m including a club-record £60m on Alvaro Morata – though they did bring back £180m in sales.

But with the club now under new management and the future of Abramovich in doubt, Chelsea may need to be more frugal with their spending, opting for a one in, one out system and not going for big-name signings.

One positive of this could be the club looking more into their youth prospects to fill their squad for the upcoming season, finally using the academy as more than just a source of income.

But which players could find themselves thrust into the first team? Ruben Loftus-Cheek is the high-profile name that will look to play his way into the side, so here are four other Chelsea youth prospects we believe could get minutes under Sarri.

1. Callum Hudson-Odoi

Last season under Antonio Conte, 17-year-old Callum Hudson-Odoi made his breakthrough into the Chelsea first team, playing four games in all competitions (two in the Premier League and two in the FA Cup).

But there were some Chelsea fans who believed the youngster should have been given more time than he was afforded as the Blues struggled in the Premier League and could have brought something new to the stagnating team.

In Sarri’s first game in charge of Chelsea, a 1-0 win over Perth Glory, Hudson-Odoi was given a starting berth on the left wing with Eden Hazard still absent after Belgium’s World Cup run.

And the 17-year-old made the most of his 45 minutes on the pitch, setting up Pedro for the only goal after beating his opposition defender well and putting in a good cross, as well as proving to be a constant threat with his dribbling ability and pace.

With Hazard’s future at the club up in the air, now could be the time for Hudson-Odoi to be trusted to start consistently for Chelsea, or at least prove himself in frequent substitute appearances as well as starts in the cups – especially if Sarri opts to follow Arsenal’s plan and play a rotated side in the Europa League group stage.

The prospects of Hudson-Odoi making it at Chelsea this season will have been given a huge boost with Goal reporting the club have offered the youngster a new five-year deal and promotion to the first team, amid reports linking him to a number of teams across Europe.

Hudson-Odoi is yet to confirm his future, but should he opt to stay at Chelsea, this may be his year to turn into a first-team player.

2. Ethan Ampadu

Another youth player to find some game time last season, with success, was Ethan Ampadu whom the club signed from Exeter in the summer of 2017.

In Chelsea’s Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Everton, Ampadu became the first player born in the year 2000 to start for Chelsea’s first team in any competition and his promise continued to slowly grow around Conte’s side.

But, still just 17, his place towards the end of the campaign was with the youth sides en route to their UEFA Youth League final appearance and FA Youth Cup victory – though he would miss both finals due to a season-ending injury.

His return came in Sarri’s first game in charge as he started in central defence alongside David Luiz, and lasted 62 minutes before being taken off as part of the usual pre-season rotation.

During his time on the pitch, Ampadu continued from where he left off last season, looking comfortable in defence and confident enough to command his Chelsea team-mates despite being the second-youngest player in the team (only Hudson-Odoi was younger), while also showing composure on the ball.

And it is that composure which may see Ampadu given extended playing time next season, with Sarri hoping to see his new side confident in playing out from the back and the likes of Gary Cahill not confident in that aspect of the game.

3. Ola Aina

With Chelsea reverting to a back four upon the arrival of Sarri, the likes of Victor Moses may no longer have a place at the club and a gap will be open at right back for a young player to move into his place.

Cesar Azpilicueta currently represents Chelsea’s only pure option at right back as things stand, with Davide Zappacosta yet to prove himself at the club and Antonio Rudiger most likely to start in central defence alongside Andreas Christensen when they both return to training with the squad.

As a result, Ola Aina may find himself in the best position of deputising for Azpilicueta or even starting should Sarri opt to field the Spaniard in central defence where he has played the past two seasons, albeit in a back three.

The 21-year-old Nigerian international spent last season out on loan at Hull City, his first spell away from Chelsea, and impressed in the Championship playing 44 out of a possible 46 games – first-team experience which could prove to be valuable throughout the upcoming campaign.

Furthering Aina’s claim to the right-back spot, young prospects in Dujon Sterling and Reece James have been loaned out this season to Coventry City and Wigan Athletic respectively. Given his two-footedness, Aina can also provide cover at left-back.

4. Marcin Bulka

While some young players who appear in pre-season may not make it into the first team for the following campaign, 18-year-old Marcin Bulka may just find himself on the bench at some point for Chelsea should the club’s number one be sold.

Bulka started, and played the full match, against Perth Glory, keeping a clean sheet in the absence of Thibaut Courtois and Willy Caballero, and starting ahead of Bradley Collins and Jared Thompson – who were both on the bench.

Chelsea look resigned to selling Courtois this summer with the Belgian having just a year remaining on his contract and expressing his desire to move to Madrid to be with his children.

With top target Alisson now at Liverpool and the transfer window just over two weeks away from closing, Chelsea’s time to find a replacement goalkeeper is cutting short.

Should they fail to bring someone in, Willy Caballero will be expected to become the club’s new number one, though the goalkeeper did not cover himself in glory for Argentina at the World Cup – leaving a space for a deputy on the bench.

This will almost certainly be Bulka, given Sarri’s first starting XI, and Eduardo’s loan to Vitesse Arnhem and could see the youngster find game time in the cup competitions and potentially Premier League should Caballero fall to injury or poor form.

The post From Ampadu to Hudson-Odoi: the four Chelsea youth products most likely to get minutes under Maurizio Sarri appeared first on Squawka News.



From Squawka NewsSquawka News https://ift.tt/2LgdKHv
Labels: , , , , , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)