Chelsea midfielder Nathanial Chalobah is in high demand with West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City potential destinations.
If there’s any single statistic that epitomises the difficulties faced by young, homegrown players in the increasingly pluralistic Premier League, it’s this; Nathanial Chalobah has played more times in England’s various international youth ranks than he has for all of his clubs combined in league football.
The long-serving England Under-21 international only made his first-team debut for Chelsea in September last year in an EFL Cup clash with Leicester City.
Nathaniel Chalobah impressed as England reached the semi-finals of the Under-21 European Championships
Considering that he is now 22 years of age, and grew up in The Blues’ academy, its little wonder his club career is yet to get off the ground. After all, a relentless array of short-term loans only takes you so far.
However, 2017 could be the year when Chalobah finally cuts ties with Chelsea in order to fulfil his vast potential. According to The Mirror, the midfielder could reunite with Paul Clement, his former youth coach at Stamford Bridge, with a summer move to Swansea City.
Despite being more involved in Chelsea’s first-team than ever under Antonio Conte, making 15 appearances in all competitions, the impending £35 million signing of Monaco powerhouse Tiemoue Bakayoko looks like being the final straw, The Mirror adds.
As such, with just a year remaining on his current deal, joining fellow Chelsea starlet Tammy Abraham in South Wales appears the logical destination.
Clement, after all, appears to be the perfect manager to get the best out of this hugely talented midfield player.
And this should give Swansea the advantage over fellow Premier League suitors. BetVictor installed West Brom as 4/1 second favourites for Chalobah recently with Baggies boss Tony Pulis desiring more quality and creativity in a workmanlike central midfield.
Chalobah could be a huge asset to West Brom, with his class and confidence in possession marking him out as a potential long-term replacement for Darren Fletcher, who surprisingly departed for Stoke City.
However, with Swansea in the race, Chalobah ending up at the Liberty Stadium appears like a foregone conclusion.
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