After spending a year and a half on loan at Vitesse Arnhem, Chelsea youngster Bertrand Traore has finally been granted a work permit to play in England.
Due to his excellent form in the Dutch league last season, the Burkina Faso international is set to be promoted to the Chelsea first team squad immediately after the summer break.
The first opportunity for him to demonstrate his progress is likely to arrive during the pre-season tour of the United States next month.
Burkina Faso's Bertrand Traoré granted work permit and will travel to the United States with #CFC for pre-season tour http://t.co/huN5rYIZuP
— Dominic Fifield (@domfifield) June 22, 2015
Traore’s rise to prominence won’t come as a surprise to anyone who has witnessed his development in the last couple of years, least of all those who have had the opportunity to work closely with him.
Earlier this month, the Vitesse manager, Peter Bosz, admitted how highly regarded the youngster is among the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.
“José Mourinho is crazy about him.” He said, before admitting that Chelsea were set to recall him at the nearest opportunity.
Traore has already shown glimpses of what he can do in a Chelsea shirt. The young Burkinabé produced some impressive performances during preseason in 2013, punctuated by an incredible 20 yard wonder goal against an Indonesian All-Star XI.
If he displays the same composure and flair this summer, Traore could stake his claim as a reliable understudy to the established collection of attacking midfielders at Stamford Bridge.
In his time at Vitesse, he’s been utilised in a number of different positions across the front line, arguably showing his best form at centre forward.
Chelsea have a lot of quality in the final third of the pitch, which makes it difficult for any young attacking player to break into the first XI. Judging by the levels of confidence and composure Traore frequently displays, he may have a few senior players looking over their shoulders.
