Carney Chukwuemeka attracting interest from clubs after a struggle at Chelsea
As per Talksport (h/t Birmingham Live), a number of rival clubs are interested in Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, who has struggled for game time in his first season at Stamford Bridge.
The former Aston Villa youngster has had limited time on the field to show what he is capable of. After arriving from West Midlands last summer for a deal worth around £20m, he did not appear in any game Thomas Tuchel managed before getting the sack.
Graham Potter handed him a few opportunities, but only one league start. Things are back to square one ever since Frank Lampard has taken charge of the team on an interim basis. As a result, he has only played 241 minutes in all competitions for the senior side.
The 19-year-old is a versatile player who can operate as a number eight or an attacking midfielder. He is technically good on the ball, can play as a playmaker, is physically strong and can offer a lot of things between both boxes.
He is young and would need to develop further to get regular game time at a club like Chelsea. The Blues signing a multitude of players in the January window may not have helped Chukwuemeka’s cause in all honesty.
With the squad bloated with quantity, we expect deadwood to be shipped out in the summer. Mauricio Pochettino’s first task might be to decide which players he wants to keep ahead of the start of next season, provided he becomes the manager (which looks highly likely).
The former Tottenham boss does have a reputation for working with top young talents and integrating them smoothly into the first-team setup. Carney Chukwuemeka definitely falls in the ‘top young talent’ category.
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- Chelsea manager Frank Lampard blasted for N’Golo Kante experiment by Darren Bent
If Pochettino wants to keep him, the 19-year-old should stay here and fight for his place in the team. He is only 19, hence there is still time for him to show patience and grab the opportunity with both hands when it comes.