Chelsea's new director of football development and operations, Neil Bath, believes that Brexit rules need to be changed in order for English academies to continue to be successful.
Bath, who had been academy manager at Cobham for 18 years and has had a role with the Blues for 29 years, takes up a senior role under the club's new ownership that is actively restructuring the internal model with a freshly recruited transfer team.
Todd Boehly/Clearlake Capital have already appointed Laurence Stewart, Joe Shields and Paul Winstanley into a strategic think-tank for operations, and Bath's success with the academy side has led to a promotion of his own.
READ MORE: Chelsea star Ruben Loftus-Cheek may face anxious World Cup wait amid England injury issue
The former youth coach has overseen a staggering group of talented players come through the Cobham academy, with nine players from the academy going to the World Cup, including Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher from the current set-up.
Bath thinks that unless post-Brexit rules are relaxed though, it will be hard to keep up the standard of players coming through English academies. "For sure, I would be in support of challenging the criteria to enable us to get greater access to the talent from abroad," he told BBC Sport.
The current rules now stop clubs from signing overseas players under 18 into their academies and has been the case since 2021. There are also other points that must be hit in order for current EU players to be signed, as well as a yearly cap of nine players under 21 coming in, with a maximum of three in the January window.
Premier League chief executive Richards Masters explained when the rules were announced: "Continuing to be able to recruit the best players will see the Premier League remain competitive and compelling. The solution will complement our player development philosophy of the best foreign talent alongside the best homegrown players."
Bath disagrees though: "That goes back to my 'best of the best' thought. I genuinely believe having access to the best of the best is the best thing for young English players." The example for Chelsea in recent years comes via Netherlands and Manchester City centre-back Nathan Ake - who was sold by the club in 2017 - and Andreas Christensen. The duo were both signed as 15 year olds by Chelsea between 2011 and 2012.
The Danish defender went on to play 161 games for the club and won the Champions League in 2021. He left on a free transfer over the summer. The argument for Bath is that their inclusion in the academy raises the standards of those competing with them at a junior age, whereas the opposite side would be that signing too many - as Chelsea have been accused of doing - only damages the prospect of English players coming through.
This was a fear of the FA's and resulted in a drive for technical players to come through English academies in order to rival that of the Spanish generation including Xavi, Andreas Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas. Such success is already evident with Phil Foden, Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka and Mason Mount, and Bath thinks that Chelsea have it spot on at Cobham.
"We don't have an academy where we all play the same system," said Bath. "We want versatile players, who can handle the ball under pressure and cope physically as well.
"It is very individual. Our belief is if we play one way, we won't develop players for the future game as it evolves."
READ NEXT:
James return, Fofana question - Chelsea's best XI if Potter refines new shape in World Cup break
Eden Hazard dream and Antonio Rudiger regret: Former Chelsea players involved in World Cup
Christopher Nkunku injury return date revealed as Chelsea face transfer dilemma after World Cup
Full list of Chelsea transfer targets going to Qatar 2022 World Cup amid Boehly scouting mission
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: Latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
