CONTRACT talks between Chelsea and their promising midfielder Lewis Bate have stalled, according to reports.
It’s believed several Premier League clubs are interested in signing the talented 18-year-old, who has a year left on his current deal.
According to the Daily Mail, Bate is yet to commit his future to Chelsea despite his contract situation.
A number of Blues youngsters are thought to be seriously considering their future before putting pen to paper on a new deal.
Bate has been at Stamford Bridge for a decade and is one of the stand-out performers in the academy.
The teenager made the bench three times last term, once in the FA Cup, once in the Premier League and once in the Champions League.
His alleged reluctance to sign a contract extension has reportedly left Liverpool, Leeds, West Ham and Southampton on red alert.
Liverpool famously nabbed striker Dominic Solanke from Chelsea’s academy in 2017 for just £3million.
The Reds then sold the player to Bournemouth two years later for a reported £19m – making a substantial profit.
West Ham, meanwhile, lured a 14-year-old Declan Rice from Chelsea in 2014 before turning him into an England international.
And Leeds are thought to be offering Bate a realistic chance of first-team football – something he’s unlikely to get at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have just allowed Billy Gilmour, one of the best young midfielders in the country, to join Norwich on loan – an indication of just how hard it is to break into their first-team.
The Blues are blessed with several top-class midfielders, including Jorginho, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount.
Danny Drinkwater, Lewis Baker, Ross Barkley, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are also under contract at Stamford Bridge.
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Bate has been capped by England at U17 and U18 levels – and is expected to make the step up to U19 level this coming season.
The left-footed star has been compared to former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere and is already involved in first-team training.
Bate impressed in the Premier League 2 last term, winning the Player of the Month award in December 2020.
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