Five youngsters for Chelsea and Jose Mourinho to consider this summer

With Chelsea, 13/8 with Coral to retain the Premier League next season, Coral take a look at five fledglings, who the club could consider this summer.

The Blues have adjusted their business model in recent years, to reflect changes in financial fair play, as reported by Coral earlier in the season, which highlighted their strategy to recruit talented youth players at low cost, to send them out on loan to increase in value as they caught the eye and then sell for a huge profit.

This, along with on-field and commercial success, has enabled them to bring in, established talent, as highlighted last summer with the signings of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas; an investment which paid off, after they won the Premier League title this season.

As a result, we suggest more youngsters who could join the club to sustain Chelsea’s successful model, and potentially break into the senior team in years to come.

Gerson
Fluminense’s 18-year-old midfielder has just started to break into the first-team, and looks a promising talent. The Blues have started to build a network in Brazilian football circles over recent years, with the signings of David Luiz and Alex (both now departed), as well as Oscar, Willian, Ramires, Filipe Luis and Brazilian-born Diego Costa.

He would also link up with the recently signed 19-year-old striker Nathan from Atletico Paranaense, and would likely cost no more than £4m.

Pepelu
Currently at Levante, the 16-year-old central midfielder is being tipped for big things. Yet to make his senior La Liga debut, the Blues could take a chance on the youth star and loan him back to the club for a couple of seasons. A deep-lying playmaker, he is technically gifted and has shown signs of becoming a top talent.

Youri Tielemans
Said to be one of the next big things to emerge from Belgium’s ever-growing production line, Anderlecht’s 18-year-old playmaker, could be a top star in the making. However, there have already been tentative whispers that Chelsea have shown an interest, and he would join an impressive honour-role of compatriots if were to move to Stamford Bridge.

Although Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne have already left the club, there remains superstars; Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard, as well as the latter’s younger brother Thorgan who has spent his time at the club out on loan. Any fee is likely to be around the £10m mark.

Find out below, why he is so highly regarded.

Ruben Neves
This starlet comes with a slightly higher profile, after being linked to Liverpool in January, though Porto’s 18-year-old is very much a Mourinho-type of player. Currently at Porto, he made the transition into the first team this season, and hasn’t disappointed.

Although he currently dictates play from a deeper position, he has shown signs of being able to emulate compatriots Manuel Rui Costa and Deco, pushing further forward. Due to his status, though, he may command a higher fee, likely to be in the region of £10m.

Ante Coric
Although Dinamo Zagreb’s 18-year-old gem may have recently signed a new contract, it may not stop Chelsea trying to snare the player, after Everton, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund were all linked.

Having been compared to the likes of compatriots, Luka Modric and Zvonimir Boban, the Croatian is blessed with talent, and could be the latest export out of the country, after Alen Halilovic and Mateo Kovacic both joined Barcelona and Inter Milan respectively in recent seasons. Watch this space.