Cash-rich PL rivals target key Chelsea staff to bolster their youth system

Newcastle United are interested in Chelsea academy chiefs Neil Bath and Jim Fraser

According to the Irish Sun, Newcastle United could eye a swoop for Chelsea academy coaches Neil Bath and Jim Fraser with a view to creating a great youth system at St. James’ Park.

The Toons have also recruited Dan Ashworth from Brighton & Hove Albion to become their director of football. Now the Tyne-side club could go ahead and purchase two key backroom staff members. Bath is the head of youth development for the Blues whereas Fraser is the head of youth recruitment.

Over the years both of them have created a great setup at Cobham producing some of the most exciting talents in recent memory. Academy players such as Mason Mount, Reece James, and Andreas Christensen have made a great mark in the first-team setup.

Apart from that, the youth system has also been adept at selling their youngsters for a substantial fee to help generate funds for the club. Chelsea have been in a vulnerable position due to the current sanctions, preventing them from signing new contracts for the staff as well as players.

Whilst those issues may be resolved as soon as we get new owners, it would be interesting to see whether or not we can keep these key backroom staff members at the club. The modern game has evolved greatly and there are more things running in the background than meet the common eye.

We have seen players like Declan Rice depart our academy at a young age, making a name for himself with West Ham United. The West Londoners also let go of Tammy Abraham recently who is enjoying a great spell in Serie A under Jose Mourinho. The club sold Tino Livramento to Southampton before the start of the 2021-22 season and our current loanee Armando Broja is also putting up excellent displays for the Saints this campaign.

It would thus be fair to say that both Fraser and Bath have done a phenomenal job in moulding these youngsters, to prepare them for the big stage. We have also seen Trevoh Chalobah make inroads into the first team this season, becoming a dependable option whenever called upon.

For any club aspiring to create a stable future, a good youth setup and shrewd negotiators are key aspects. A good scouting system coupled with coaches that can bring out the best in them could help build a solid foundation for the club.

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The Magpies spent more than £90 million in January to bolster their squad. This infusion seems to have helped them get further away from a relegation spot and the Toons now seem to be eyeing the Chelsea youth coaches. Considering their track record, it would be a big blow to the club should they depart anytime soon.

It would thus be interesting to see how our new owners will handle this situation. While speculation may be rife, only the future can accurately predict what lies in store for the future of the Blues academy bosses.