It can be easily forgotten how highly Fikayo Tomori was thought of when he broke through under Frank Lampard in the 2019/20 season. He, along with Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and Reece James formed a quartet of homegrown stars helping to infuse new energy into the first team.
"Thiago at the back and Timo in attack" might be the line in the song Chelsea fans sing in adoration of Thomas Tuchel now, but under Lampard, it was Fikayo and Tammy being lauded along with Lampard, demonstrating how big a part that duo played in an exciting season for supporters.
But after a bright start as a fully-fledged first-team player Tomori suddenly found himself watching on from the sidelines. By the time he was loaned out to AC Milan in January 2021, he had been firmly placed on the fringes of Lampard's squad without much clarity as to why.
READ MORE: Thomas Tuchel has brilliant answer to Paul Pogba transfer message amid Chelsea midfield clearout
READ MORE: Manchester United's embarrassing Thomas Tuchel failure offers Chelsea their own Ten Hag lesson
Tomori left with an option to buy which Milan triggered for £25million, and since then the 24-year-old has only grown as a defender. With the Blues' current contract concern over the defensive trio of Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta, the decision to sell Tomori was not without its drawbacks in both the short and long term.
Tomori's sale was also a part of a wider youth exodus last summer that saw many academy players seek development elsewhere. Tino Livramento and Marc Guehi also departing for Premier League football at Southampton and Crystal Palace respectively.
In an interview with The Guardian, Tomori revealed how he had encouraged his Cobham peer and friend Tammy Abraham to sign for Roma last summer. Abraham, like Tomori, had fallen out of favour with Thomas Tuchel and his summer exit felt inevitable even before Chelsea lifted the Champions League in Porto.
"When he said Roma was on the table, I said: 'Bro this is a good league'," Tomori said.
"I felt like it would develop his game a lot. He has scored a lot of goals this season for Roma, they’re fighting for a Champions League spot.
"Definitely it’s helped him and definitely I gave him rave reviews about Serie A because I enjoyed myself so much the first six months."
Abraham secured a £35million move in August and like Tomori has seen his reputation grow while in Italy. Netting 23 goals in 40 appearances for Roma, more than any Chelsea player can boast this season.
How this tale relates back to Chelsea is the future of Conor Gallagher, who has thrived on loan at Crystal Palace this season - coincidentally the club Chelsea sold Guehi to for £20million last summer. In an interview with Gallagher and Guehi whilst on international duty for England, the defender joked that he'd already told Gallagher to "come to Palace" permanently.
Whilst Thomas Tuchel has always been highly complimentary about Gallagher whenever asked about his progress, the trend Chelsea set last summer in selling academy products could have lasting effects. Tomori, Abraham, Guehi and Livramento have all enjoyed success post-Chelsea, quickly gaining favour at their clubs and becoming trusted players.
What might be deemed a risk in leaving Chelsea, has proven a shrewd move for all four players and might convince others to follow suit in the coming windows if they feel their interests are best served away from Stamford Bridge.
