Chelsea are eyeing Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor, 18, as one for the future, with Chelsea reportedly keeping tabs on the promising teenager.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Chelsea are interested in Ahanor, who has impressed in Serie A playing as a centre-half and a left-wing-back. He won 55 percent of his aerial and 62% of his ground duels last season, while helping to keep four clean sheets in 22 league appearances.
Ahanor has been touted as a potential star for some time now, and it's no surprise that big clubs like Chelsea are taking notice. His impressive performances have already attracted a significant transfer fee, with Atalanta paying €16 million plus €4m in bonuses around this time last year for his services.
However, Atalanta has already rejected two offers for Ahanor's services, and it remains to be seen whether Chelsea can convince them to part ways. Ahanor, who represents Italy at youth levels but is eligible to play for Nigeria through both parents, has continued to impress, attracting attention from top clubs.
Chelsea already have a crowded group of young defenders on their books, including Aaron Anselmino and Mamadou Sarr, who are both looking to develop away from Stamford Bridge. Meanwhile, Josh Acheampong has already shown enough potential to deserve continued opportunities with the senior side.
The club's obsession with stockpiling young talent can become counterproductive when players are moved around or blocked from progressing naturally. Ahanor may well develop into an excellent defender, but Chelsea do not need to sign every promising teenager who emerges.
Chelsea need to give the players they already have a genuine chance to establish themselves, as seen with Deivid Washington, David Datro Fofana, and Mathis Amougou. Allowing them to develop without constant tampering with their careers will be key to unlocking their full potential.
The latest development in this story is that Chelsea's interest in Honest Ahanor remains ongoing, with Atalanta yet to decide whether to accept a potential offer for the young defender.
Source: Yahoo Sports