Chelsea’s Nathaniel Chalobah has reportedly tabled a transfer request with several clubs on the lookout for the talented midfielder. With the Stamford Bridge outfit set to sign 22-year-old Bakayoko from the Ligue 1 champions, Chalobah is apprehensive of finding much game time with The Blues in a repeat scenario of last season.
Chalobah was retained last season under the express orders of Chelsea Head Coach, Antonio Conte. Impressed with the defensive midfielder in pre-season the Italian could not, however, make room for him in the team with the likes of N’Golo Kante, Matic and Cesc Fabregas ahead of him in the pecking order.
Assured in possession, the 22-year-old suitably impressed when given the opportunity, his highlight of the season being the cheeky back-heel 1-2 with Victor Moses, against Leicester City in a League game resulting in a goal.
The Englishman and Chelsea academy product has put on alert an array of Premier League teams who are interested in securing the player’s services. Watford FC appear to be heading the chase for Chalobah. Having spent a season on loan at Vicarage Road back in 2012, the player seems intent on a return provided he receives assurances over first-team football. He would cost Watford around £5m with a buy-back clause inserted in the contract.
Marco Silva would cherish the prospect of pairing the midfield destroyer with Will Hughes. Chalobah, along with Hughes, were Aidy Boothroyd’s favoured midfield pairing for England’s under-21 team in the recently concluded UEFA European under-21 Championship. The impending sale to Watford makes sense for both the player and Chelsea.
The player can look forward to increased game time which would have been hard to come by if he stuck with Chelsea. The club (with the reported buy-back clause) can look forward to welcoming a player boasting much needed Premier League pedigree down the line if his growth trajectory is upward rising.
In a move that has been music to the ears for Watford fans, having experienced first hand, the qualities of the player who proved crucial in Watford’s 2012-13 season, helping them reach the Championship play-off finals, can not contain their excitement, judging by social media activity.
The Chelsea fans in stark contrast are less than pleased with another Chelsea academy graduate set to leave the club. It is believed that the player wanted first-team assurances from the Chelsea Head Coach as a precondition to renewing his contract with the club.
Upon having received no such guarantees, the player decided to make a permanent move elsewhere, believed to be Watford. In a repeat of the Nathan Ake story, who was sold to Bournemouth, Chelsea have repeatedly failed to integrate talented academy graduates in the first team over the years.
The Stamford Bridge outfit would hope to exercise their buy-back option with both the players a year or two down the line, being the only silver lining.
