With Chelsea unable to strike up a deal for Sevilla’s Jules Kounde, Thomas Tuchel has taken an introspective look into the academy set-up at Cobham with graduate Trevoh Chalobah in line to benefit greatly.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 14: Trevoh Chalobah of Chelsea celebrates with teammate Cesar Azpilicueta after scoring their side’s third goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on August 14, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Chalobah, now 22-years-old, has done incredibly well to impress the German tactician during the Blues pre-season preparations and was given his full debut in Chelsea’s Super Cup penalty win over Villarreal. But the Freetown-native did not stop there and would open his goal account for the club in their Premier League curtain-raiser against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge when he scored in the 58th minute of their 3-0 win.
Thomas Tuchel has met with #Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah to tell him that he is no longer available for loan and that he wants his future tied up.
[via @NizaarKinsella]
— Absolute Chelsea (@AbsoluteChelsea) August 19, 2021
This is has been more than enough for Tuchel, who is now set to offer Chalobah a contract extension at the Bridge that will tie down his immediate future in west London.
With the likes of Ethan Ampadu, Malang Sarr, and Matt Miazga all on the chopping block this summer in some capacity, the timely nature of Chalobah’s breaking into the first-team setup offers Chelsea a homegrown solution to their desire for additional recruitment in the heart of the defense.
Previously linked with interest in the aforementioned Kounde as well as the likes of Niklas Süle, Chelsea may now be set to close the book on their summer transfer plans as Chalobah promotion and extension would add him to a defensive cadre including Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rüdiger, Thiago Silva, and – for now – Kurt Zouma. But should the club find either temporary or permanent destinations for Ampadu, Sarr, and Miazga, there could be scope for one more center-back in at Stamford Bridge before the window slams shut.
