Thomas Tuchel has not ruled out his Chelsea youngsters starring in the first-team
(Picture: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)Thomas Tuchel has provided an update on the several Chelsea youngsters facing an uncertain future after loan spells away from the club.
West Ham have made a £30million plus add-ons bid for the injured Armando Broja, who has returned to London for treatment on an ankle injury.
Meanwhile, Billy Gilmour, Tino Anjorin and Harvey Vale have been sent to Salt Lake City to train with the Under-23s. Levi Colwill remains with the squad but didn't play in the opening pre-season friendly against Club America due to a tight thigh.
With so many players trying to force their way into Tuchel's squad or, failing that, into a loan or permanent transfer, the Chelsea manager provided an update from his Orlando training camp.
“We know Tino [Anjorin] pretty well, Billy Gilmour pretty well and Harvey Vale because he trained with us last season," Tuchel said ahead of a pre-season match against Charlotte.
“Armando was injured and I don't expect Armando to leave. We are aware of offers and interest. It just tells us that there's a lot of potential.
“We will make a decision together, the owners and myself, and also with the player in the end. Right now, from when he arrived, it was clear that he tried to impress and to become a Chelsea player as soon as possible.
"After his loan in Southampton, the situation was very clear that he wanted to take the next step and show his improvement and make an impression in pre-season. Unfortunately, he injured himself.
“There's a lot of noise because there are a lot of offers and interest in him. So let's see how this goes. But I am pretty calm about it. We know the situation. He has a contract and from there we go.”
Tuchel went on to discuss the situation of Gilmour, Vale and Anjorin after their exit from the senior squad’s camp.
He said: “The decisions we took [to send players away], I didn't like it, to be honest, because all the players deserved to stay here.
“All of the players deserved to stay here and play here. The guys you mentioned were doing fantastic in training, were heavily involved and were fit.
“Ross [Barkley] has been an example in every training session so far and has a little injury right now, which is a little setback. But these are the decisions to take. We know Billy Gilmour very well. I struggle a bit to find the role where Tino Anjorin plays but we like him very much, Harvey the same.
“They know from my talk with them that I didn't like sending them away but the group was too big. We had the chance not to send them home straight away but to play in America. They will have playing time with the Under-23s so this was the decision.
“I promised them when they are back in London that we will have this talk in London. Then we will also have a clearer view on our team on who we trust and build the group around then maybe we will do the squad you suggested.”
We need more impressions of Colwill to get a better outlook on the situation.
On Levi Colwill, who has interest from Crystal Palace, Southampton, Brighton and Leicester, Tuchel said: “With Levi, it is too early to answer.
“What I will say now is maybe I have to take back or give another opinion in a few weeks, I simply haven’t seen enough of him in our group. He got a bit of an injury and was out of training for several days.
“Once you are out it takes a while to catch up especially for those who aren’t used to that level. The fact he is still here is very easy, we don’t know him enough so he needs to stay here. We need more impressions of him to get a better outlook on the situation. But like what [Trevoh] Chalobah did last season, everyone is invited to do the same.”
