Three Youngsters Chelsea Should Sign This Summer
Chelsea are expected to be active once again in the upcoming summer transfer window, with a top-class striker high on their list of priorities.
The club’s transfer model still centres around signing young stars on lower wages, spreading the payments over lengthy contracts before selling them for profit.
Chelsea are determined to find the next stars before their fees skyrocket, especially in talent-rich markets such as South America.
They want to avoid paying another premium fee like the hundreds of millions of pounds they spent on Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo.
When Todd Boehly and the Clearlake Consortium came in, there was hardly any sense to their transfer dealings, but their strategy is finally showing signs of stability.
Chelsea boast the youngest squad in the Premier League – and it could get even younger with the club set to sell more than a dozen players this summer.
The proceeds from those outgoings will be reinvested. However, Chelsea are sticking to their youth-first philosophy, but they want young players ready to contribute to the first team.
The Blues have already announced two more additions to the squad outside of the transfer window, snapping up Sporting CP duo Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo.
While they are in the market for primary targets, you would not put it past them to add a few more teenage prodigies to their squad. Here are three viable options.
Franco Mastantuono – River Plate
Franco Mastantuono has already shown maturity beyond his years. The River Plate midfielder is fast becoming one of the most talked-about young players in the world.
He first raised eyebrows when he became the youngest goalscorer in River Plate’s history after scoring in a cup clash against Excursionistas. His stock has been on the rise since then.
Mastantuono has already bagged more than 10 goal contributions this season. Those numbers reflect his immense talent, and Chelsea should be leading the race to snap him up.
He has been called up to Argentina’s Under-20 squad, but many people expect him to go one step further and push for a place in the senior team ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Nestory Irankunda – Bayern Munich
Chelsea have the perfect opportunity to enact vengeance on Bayern Munich for snatching Jamal Musiala in 2019 by poaching Australian prodigy Nestory Irankunda.
Irankunda is considered the future of Australian football and has been making waves since his days at the Adelaide United Academy. But he has yet to get a shot at first-team football at Bayern.
Despite his steady development on loan at Swiss side Grasshoppers, he is still years away from getting a chance at Bayern, so a permanent exit cannot be ruled out.
A move to Chelsea could have a ripple effect on the Australian betting industry. The sportsbooks on this list of online betting sites in Australia offer odds on Premier League games.
If Irankunda signs for the Blues, many Aussie punters would be more inclined to bet on their games and wager on their compatriot in individual betting markets.
Ayyoub Bouaddi – Lille
Lille cashed in on Leny Yoro, who secured a big-money move to Manchester United last summer. Twelve months down the line, they have another gem that could become highly sought after.
Ayyoub Bouaddi has already made 54 senior appearances for Lille. Most of those games came this season. He featured 36 times in all competitions and chipped in with two assists.
Bouaddi is developing into a midfield maestro. He is a presence in the middle of the pitch who demands the ball and wants to be heavily involved in proceedings.
He has enjoyed the same rapid growth Yoro did at Lille, and for good reason. The teenager is press-resistant and confidently dictates play under pressure.
His passing range is eye-catching, and his versatility has been an invaluable asset for Lille. It would not be surprising if he is linked with a move to Chelsea this summer.
