Chelsea move for Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayaoko has somewhat divided their fans, and one of the club favourites has now had his say on the move, claiming that buying the Frenchman will prevent Nat Chalobah developing.
Speaking on TalkSport, Ray Wilkins lamented that the Blues were going to pay £32 million for a player the same age and so similar to the boy from their youth academy.
“In Nathaniel they have got a footballer that can play exactly the same but just needs an opportunity to get in there and play.” Wilkins told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast.
The legendary Blues midfielder, affectionately known as “the crab” for his tireless shuffling of the ball from side to side, is a regular presence at Stamford Bridge on matchdays and his views echo those of many other matchgoing Chelsea fans. While nobody can complain about the squad being strengthened, there’s definitely a sense that unless a player of the true highest calibre is available, we are better off trusting in youth players that have already demonstrated their value.
