The trend of the season seems to be a collective effort against Chelsea’s failed youth system and an attempt to mock at the club’s naivety when it comes to signing and releasing players. It has been long known that the only future of Chelsea academy graduates who stay back at the club is to play as reserve team members since the club more or less buys every one of their first team players.
This does not mean that the club cannot spot young talent or develop their own. They do but they fail to follow through meaning that Chelsea end up losing more than what they went in for. The club tries to make it up in financial numbers showing that the player was sold at a higher price and while the logic is correct, few board members argue the fact that Chelsea end up losing another promising player.
In the last few years, Chelsea let go of Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Mohamed Salah. Lukaku is enjoying a 25-goal season as the leading forward for Manchester United, Kevin De Bruyne has been on a world class level and might bag the PFA Player of the Year award, as for Salah, the 40-goal man has is on course to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
Chelsea meanwhile are stuck with Alvaro Morata as their forward, Pedro on their wings and Tiemoue Bakayoko in midfield. It seems that the club could be on their way to ruing the loss of another player in the form of Ryan Bertrand. The Chelsea graduate made his first mark under Roberto Di Matteo when he featured in the Champions League final starting line up for the Blues which Chelsea went on to win.
Bertrand has been moved on by Chelsea since and the player is currently plying his trade at Southampton. However, it might not be long with reports claiming that Manchester City are interested in signing the fullback. Bertrand has been in excellent form for the Saints and is currently England’s first choice left back in the face of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
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He has excellent pace, a good cross on him and makes darting overlapping runs. This would mean that he is perfect for City and Pep who loves an attacking fullback. The City team is short on left back with only one senior player Benjamin Mendy who naturally plays at that position but has been out all season. It seems Pep is ready to plug the little holes in the team and getting a cover in Bertrand would go a long way to doing exactly that.
