The Blues risk losing their standout academy graduate over the summer if fresh contract talks fall short of addressing the future. Young English players who exhaust their contracts often follow this pattern, which worries clubs. Chelsea has done this before and has permitted academy graduates to depart for a variety of reasons, including financing, a lack of first-team opportunity, and a preference for high-priced signings. Numerous outstanding players have left Stamford Bridge in the past. The Blues, on the other hand, have not recently been forced to make many sales. Eden Hazard, who offered seven years of superb service and a substantial transfer fee when his contract expired, was the biggest one.
Tammy Abraham wasn’t ejected from the team because he had been absent for six months prior to his sale to Roma. Many more talented players were not given the chance to perform before leaving. The players in the present, though, are unique. The club’s most important asset, Reece James, has agreed to a long-term contract. It’s a good idea to have a backup plan in case the backup plan fails. Instead, they have evolved into the core of a squad led by an academy. This trio will continue to be crucial when underperforming players depart the team throughout the summer.
Chelsea may lose their top academy graduate over the summer if fresh contract negotiations can’t be reached. The club has in the past given academy graduates permission to depart for a variety of factors, such as money-raising or a lack of first-team opportunity. The squad’s academy-led basis, however, depends on the current crop of young players, including Reece James, Armando Broja, Trevoh Chalobah, and Conor Gallagher. Chelsea has made the decision to keep them despite their prospective high value.
Academy players’ transfer fees are reduced to pure profit when they are sold because they have no amortized value. Because Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital could require a young product on the books to help balance the spreadsheets, it is possible that at least one Cobham graduate will leave at the end of the season. Due to a current contract standoff and the fact that Mason Mount, who joined Chelsea more than 15 years ago, is entering the final 18 months of his contract, the club is very concerned that he may leave. Mount wants to be paid like the top player on the team, but he also doesn’t want to sign a long-term deal like the new January recruits do.
Chelsea is willing to allow the 24-year-old two-time player of the year depart in just over three months because they are unwilling to face the chance of losing Mount for nothing in the summer of 2024. Bukayo Saka at Arsenal and Phil Foden at Manchester City were in comparable situations, but Marcus Rashford’s position with Manchester United ultimately turned out well.
Rashford struggled throughout the previous season, but the club showed trust in him and was patient with him, which paid off this year. Similar circumstances exist for Mount, and it would be unfortunate for Chelsea to lose him considering his talent and importance to the team. Even though Boehly and Clearlake are businesspeople, they are astute enough to recognize the advantages of keeping academy players. Rashford’s work at United has already demonstrated that there is a better solution than simply sell on the table, even though it could require a little give and take from both parties.
