THERE has never been a better time to be an academy player at Chelsea.
With Frank Lampard and Jody Morris back at Stamford Bridge, all youngsters will genuinely believe they have a shot of making the senior squad.
Billy Gilmour, Reece James, Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, and more recently Faustino Anjorin have all been afforded chances.
Lampard and Morris take great interest in both academy stars and youngsters away on loan.
And there will be a fair few the pair are considering calling up to the Chelsea first-team at some stage in 2021.
We take a look at FOUR players who could be ready to take the leap…
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MARC GUEHI
THE England under-21 international has really come into his own this season on loan at Swansea, helping them mount a challenge for the Championship title.
If he keeps improving at this rate he will really be staking a claim to come in as one of Lampard’s centre-backs next season.
His confidence has sky-rocketed and he is showing potential to become a top-class, modern-day centre-back.
CONOR GALLAGHER
THE midfielder’s path into the first-team looks a lot tougher than Guehi and he might go out on loan for another season before he gets his shot.
But you cannot ignore his ability and what he is doing in the Premier League right now for a struggling team.
Ironically, he has a look of being ‘Lampard-esque’ in terms of his box-to-box play and tendency to arrive late in the opposition area to find the net.
He has a LOT of top talent to compete with to make it at Chelsea, but I believe he can have an edge over some and get a chance.
ARMANDO BROJA
THE 19-year old has already been capped three times by Albania and he has the look of being a complete striker.
There is a bit more development needed from the on-loan Vitesse player.
But with five goals in 11 appearances so far this season, I firmly believe he can be in the Chelsea squad within the next two seasons.
ETHAN AMPADU
THE Wales ace finally looks to be getting the game time he deserves with Sheffield United in the Premier League this season – having played as both a centre-back and defensive midfielder.
I’d still like to see him perfect one single position – and I know Lampard sees him as a midfielder.
But the quality he has is unquestionable and he’s been showing it for years.
Similarly to Gallagher, he has a lot of quality ahead of him in the pecking order right now.
But, depending on various other situations and as long as he keeps performing, I think he could be in Chelsea’s senior squad next season.
