There are still a few days to go before the start of the summer transfer window. But it does look like Chelsea are already laying the foundations for their roster. And they have seemingly won the race to sign an English midfielder who was also on the radar of Manchester City.
Chelsea have constantly tried to sign youngsters during the BlueCo era. That was expected to change with Xabi Alonso’s arrival. But that does not seem to be the case.
It looks like Chelsea are now closing in on the signing of an 18-year-old English midfielder ahead of other top clubs.
According to Pete O’Rourke, Chelsea have won the race for Wigan Athletic’s Harrison Bettoni. The attacking midfielder is available as a free agent with his club only due to a training compensation from the Blues.
Who is Harrison Bettoni, midfielder Chelsea are about to sign?
Bettoni currently plays for Wigan Athletic. He broke into their senior team last season and by the end fo the campaign, was playing regularly.
Bettoni made 27 appearances in total across all competitions, 11 of which were starts. He scored four goals in total.
Bettoni played mostly in the number 10 role but he can feature as a centre-forward as well if the situation calls for it. That kind of versatility will appeal to clubs.
Manchester City were supposedly interested in Bettoni, but they were not the only ones. Italian giants AC Milan were also said to be monitoring the midfielder. But it appears Chelsea have come out on top.
Why move for Bettoni is the right one
Now, many might question this move. Bettoni is a League One midfielder. There is no guarantee that he will ever be able to adjust to the jump that comes with the Premier League.
That being said, some top players can come from League One. Ivan Toney, for example, had to prove himself at Peterborough United before getting a chance at Brentford, then in the Championship.
Also, considering the level of teams interested in Bettoni, one would imagine that he is quite the talent. And ultimately, it is a low-risk move, no matter how it turns out.
If Bettoni does well and is able to become an impact player for Chelsea, it would be an incredible signing. If he fails to do so, the club will still likely make a decent profit on a future transfer, just based on his reputation.
