Chelsea risk losing two highly-rated youngsters as Man City open transfer talks

Chelsea could lose two of their highly-rated youngsters as Charlie Webster may leave and Manchester City have opened transfer talks with Jude Soonsup-Bell, according to reports.

In recent years the Blues’ academy has played a vital role in the club’s success, they have been granted more opportunities to become key players for the side.

This all became more prominent in 2019, when Frank Lampard was head coach, due to a transfer ban Chelsea were unable to buy new players so the youth were heavily depended on.

In that season alone the likes of Mason Mount, Reece James, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori all broke into the starting team.

Mason Mount scoring a free-kick against Aston Villa in the Premier League for Chelsea. (Alamy)

While some of these players are no longer at the club, they all were a major part of the west London side achieving top four that season.

Last year, Trevoh Chalobah was handed first team opportunities and under Graham Potter he has become a reliable option.

As well as Armando Broja earning minutes this season, Chelsea also splashed the cash in the summer to bring in some fresh faces.

Carney Chukwuemeka and Cesare Casadei arrived at Cobham, with the Blues splashing over £30 million on the pair.

Gabriel Slonina was another addition made in the transfer window, but he was loaned out to MLS side Chicago Fire and will return to Stamford Bridge in January.

The academy at Chelsea is one of, if not the strongest in the country but they could be about to lose one of their stars to one of their rivals.

As reported by the Evening Standard, Manchester City are in transfer talks with striker Soonsup-Bell.

The 18-year-old has played once for the first team at Chelsea in a Carabao Cup clash against Brentford.

Brentford's Pontus Jansson (left) and Chelsea's Jude Soonsup-Bell in action during the Carabao Cup quarter final match at the Brentford Community Stadium. (Alamy)

He joined the Blues from Swindon Town as an under-13 but it looks as though he may be on his way out.

In the Premier League 2 this season the attacker has played just 47 minutes across six games, picking up a goal and an assist in his short cameos.

As well as the forward potentially leaving, he could be joined by midfielder Webster, who has rejected several contract offers at Chelsea.

In nine games this season in the Premier League 2, the 18-year-old has scored twice and has been a key part of the side.

With the recent signings of Chukwuemeka and Casadei, he may feel as though he no longer has the chance to make his way into the first team.