As the transfer window prepares to open, excitement arrives at what teams can look like for the new season. New hopes emerge as squads are revitalised and the dreams of the next year begin to germinate as news and rumours drive excitement.
However, while Chelsea have spoken about transforming their squad, there should also be a focus on what is already at the club and what may come next. The Blues have garnered a reputation for developing players at Cobham and seeing them rise high either at Chelsea or on loan.
The likes of Mason Mount, Reece James and a number of others have made their name away from the club before returning to shine, like Levi Colwill more recently, while in the last 12 months Lewis Hall has stood tall upon his introduction to Premier League football and succeeded Harvey Vale as academy player of the year. So the question then comes, who next?
football.london takes a look at just some of the players ready to start forging their reputations both at and away from the club in 2023/24.
Leo Castledine - The 17-year-old was a regular member of Chelsea's Premier League 2 squad last season, but predominantly from the bench and appears set to be one of the key members of next year's team. Like with many Cobham products, Castledine, who scored 15 times across 38 appearances including six in seven in the under-18 Premier League and four in six in the UEFA Youth League, has shown versatility to play in the heart of defence, and across the forward positions.
Ultimately, the attacking midfielder has a unique ability to sniff out opportunities and take them, to display his intelligence. An exciting prospect.
Omari Hutchinson - Having arrived to much fanfare from Arsenal last summer, Hutchinson wasted little time in adjusting to new surroundings. The winger lit up Premier League 2 in the first half of the season and earned some fleeting minutes for the first team.
A loan was talked about ahead of the season and a temporary move fell apart on the transfer deadline day in January and the Blues must find him a platform to thrive ahead of 2023/24. Regular senior football will ensure Hutchinson can kick on having been around the Chelsea first team and will be an exciting next step.
Cesare Casadei - The Italian midfielder arrived a Chelsea last summer with the club clearly hoping to give him time to acclimatise before seeing what he could truly do. Some impressive goals for the Blues development squad saw him prove he was ready for a Championship loan at Reading for the latter half of the season and now the 20-year-old will be hoping for a step up.
For any doubters, Casadei's displays captaining Italy at the under-20 World Cup have only elevated his reputation and a return of seven goals across the tournament has driven his nation's run to the final. Unreal.
Alex Matos - Having departed Norwich football.london understands that the 18-year-old is set to transfer to Chelsea for the new season. The former Canaries youngster is likely to have been signed to reinforce what is set to be a young under-21 side next term.
Jimmy-Jay Morgan - The forward returned to the club in February from Southampton in was is said to be a £6million deal but saw his momentum slowed by requiring an operation on an issue that was flagged in his medical. While he only turned 17 in January, Morgan managed to add four goals and five assists in eight Premier League 2 matches for the Saints. He'll hope to hit the ground running next term.
Ben Elliott - Perhaps not one of the flashier names of Chelsea's academy but a player with so much talent. There is a reason he has been named in Cameroon's most recent squad and has the potential of going to AFCON.
At 20, Elliott is one of the older members of the academy after seeing his progress slowed by injury at the under-15 level, but he had much to offer the Blues in Premier League 2 last term. The midfielder is said to have drawn interest from League One sides in January, but still has another year on his Chelsea contract. If he can get the right loan next season he is set to shine.
Charlie Webster - The 18-year-old has impressed in the centre of Chelsea's midfield over the last two seasons and earned moments in first team training without really threatening a matchday squad since making the bench versus Brentford in 2021. The passing maestro could gain his first experience of senior football in the coming season with the perfect opportunity to prove himself having extended his deal earlier in the year. A loan seems increasingly likely and Webster will be hoping to prove a point to the club.
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