Southampton sign Derrick Abu whose contract with Chelsea expired this summer
As per transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Southampton have signed defender Derrick Abu whose contract with Chelsea expired this summer.
Abu arrived at Chelsea three years ago. He joined the youth team and played a lot of games for them from then till the end of last season. He made 38 appearances in all competitions for the various youth sides, scoring three goals and assisting four (Transfermarkt).
The 19-year-old England youth international is a right-back who can operate either as a centre-back or a left-back. One would expect him to stick to a particular position the more his game develops.
Although joining Southampton is always a good prospect for a young player because you get opportunities to play for the first-team there, they will be in the Championship next season.
The hope is that Abu helps them get back to the Premier League next summer. Then, the experience gained in the English top-flight would be good for his overall development as a player.
There have been a lot of ins and outs of young players at Chelsea in the last 12 months. The key would be to strike a balance because having a strong youth team is important for a pathway for the players to the first team.
When we talk about the senior squad, there is a huge chunk of players 25 or below in age. While Mauricio Pochettino might enjoy that because he is one of the best at getting the best out of a young squad, he would love to add a bit more experience to the ranks, wouldn’t he?
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For example, signing a young Villarreal striker Nicolas Jackson is all well and good. But, expecting him to solve the scoring issues of the team would be too much to ask. So, the club should pursue a deal for a number nine who can come and straight away make an impact.