Only a week in the past, the pessimism seeping out of Stamford Bridge couldn’t have been assuaged by even probably the most fertile thinkers among the many Chelsea fanbase, however after back-to-back wins in opposition to Leeds United within the Premier League and Borussia Dortmund within the Champions League, the optimism is palpable. once more.
Supervisor Graham Potter has definitely been given some respiration room after progressing to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and shutting the hole on fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur within the league, with the 2 wins coming after a woeful run that left Chelsea with simply two wins from 15 video games throughout all competitions.
There may be new positivity in west London, however the scenario surrounding stalwart N’Golo Kante tarnishes current success, with the 31-year-old midfielder’s future on the outfit up within the air.
Signed from Premier League champions Leicester Metropolis for £30m in 2016, Kante has been instrumental in successful a bunch of main honors together with the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Europa League over his 262 appearances.
However this season, dogged by a dangerous hamstring damage and consequently lacking 33 aggressive video games at current, the membership should think about their choices, with the Frenchman out of contract inside months.
With this in thoughts, Blues technical director Christopher Vivell could also be inclined to delve into the youth leaders and proceed the development that noticed the likes of Reece James and Mason Mount discover a residence in Chelsea’s beginning XI.
A clever different might be Leo Castledine.
Who’s Leo Castledine?
In 2020, the prodigy left AFC Wimbledon after seven years to hitch Chelsea’s prestigious Cobham academy, and has up to now impressed at each stage of his growth, now inside touching distance of a breakthrough on the senior stage.
In line with Chelsea’s official web site, Castledine is “an attacking midfielder who has the power to play box-to-box, likes to create and rating targets and could be very tenacious within the deal with.”
Will Castledine make it at Chelsea?
{the teenager}”expertise” – dubbed by Joe Flemons – has made 72 appearances in whole for the Blues’ youth ranks, scoring 22 targets and incomes seven assists, and this time period has plundered 11 targets and two assists from 30 video games, hailed by inventive company KIN for a “marvel strike” this time period.
Ought to the teen be supplied the platform to shine, he might certainly discover a place within the residence at the moment occupied by World Cup winner Kante, whose rugged and combative brilliance in his sweeping duties typically leaves the lots unaware of how chic his attacking work might be. .
In line with FBref, the £290,000-a-week gem ranks within the high 8% of midfielders in Europe’s high 5 leagues for shot-creating motion, the highest 1% for progressive carries and the highest 17% for assists per 90, illustrating the breadth of his sport which extends far past the studious facet to his arsenal.
And with Castledine boasting “stamina” and “creativity” in abundance, he might be a box-to-box prodigy who might assume the mantle as one of many Premier League’s greatest modern stars.
With this in thoughts, Potter should think about unleashing the precocious 18-year-old expertise within the coming months; whereas the profitable spending spree beneath new proprietor Todd Boehly has given the membership a brand new look, and recognition of Stamford Bridge roots and the achievements of the likes of James and Mount should not be forgotten.
Castledine may simply be the proper inheritor to interchange one of many Premier League’s most gorgeous fashionable midfielders.
