Chelsea have almost been a model for success since the start of the Roman Abramovich era, having won countless titles at home and been crowned champions of Europe during his premiership.
However, there are a few areas in which they must certainly take criticism. Their managerial turnover is, albeit in a day an age where a loaf of bread has a longer shelf life than some Premier League bosses, alarmingly high and their slump to 10th two seasons ago was rather remarkable.
Perhaps the greatest criticism which can be thrown at the Blues under the Russian is their record when it comes to youth. Not since John Terry, who made his debut five years before Abramovich arrived on the scene, has a player made their way through the ranks to establish themselves in the first team at Stamford Bridge.
It’s a record which grates most fans. While their success is almost incomparable to any rival in recent years, fans love nothing more than seeing ‘one of their own’ make the step up and, in the wake of Terry’s departure this summer, there is a gaping void waiting to be filled.
Alongside Terry, other big names are leaving west London behind this summer, with Diego Costa all but gone, Nemanja Matic being linked with a move away and Branislav Ivanovic having left earlier in the year.
However, instead of turning to youth the Blues are looking to the transfer market to replace them. Antonio Conte has already brought in defender Antonio Rudiger, midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko and club record signing Alvaro Morata this summer, as well as former Manchester City man Willy Caballero on a free transfer, but is reportedly after another four targets, with the likes of Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain potentially on his way in.
There, of course, must be a balance between new signings and academy products. Alan Hansen’s infamous ‘you can’t win anything with kids’ quip may have been proved wrong in 1995, however, when those around you are forking out hundreds of millions in one summer, that probably rings true.
That said, it goes against the whole idea of having a top academy, which the Blues do, if none are given a run at making their mark in the first team, and could also be starving the national side of some future stars.
There is no suggestion that Conte should be going all out and giving his youth side permanent stints in the Premier League or Champions League in the hope that one of them pays off, however, if he covers all of his bases with some chances here and there he still has a high chance of seeing some progression and potentially hitting the jackpot, as if he were choosing to play a five reel slot machine instead of one with just three.
With that in mind, who could we expect to make a real impact on the side over the coming season? Here are three players we think will breakthough over the next nine months-or-so…
Lewis Baker
The England U21 international is perhaps the golden boy of the current crop in west London. The midfielder, who has spent the last two years honing his skills with Vitesse Arnhem, has featured in pre-season for Conte – most recently coming on for the second half against Bayern Munich.
The 22-year-old has received a lot of praise since his return from his loan spell, and with nearly 100 first team appearances in the Championship and abroad he seems more than ready to add to his solitary three minute Blues cameo in the FA Cup.
Charly Musonda
The 20-year-old is another to have spent time away from the capital on loan, having been with Spanish outfit Real Betis for a year until being recalled in January due to injury.
The Belgian U21 international is now nearly back to full fitness and has been out on the Blues’ pre-season tour as he looks to impress Conte ahead of the new season.
The former Juventus manager has already made it clear that he likes what he sees in Musonda, it’s now down to the forward to break the barrier into the first team come the start of the season.
Andreas Christensen
Perhaps the most likely of the trio to make it onto Conte’s teamsheet this term, the 21-year-old has recently returned from a loan spell in the Bundesliga with Borussia Monchengladbach and claims he is ready to make the step up now he is back.
The Danish international, who has been bumped up the pecking order after Kurt Zouma’s loan move to Stoke earlier this week, has a wealth of top level experience under his belt already including run outs in both the Champions League and the Europa League.
