Chelsea ‘confident’ in keeping Academy next big thing Charlie Webster — report

According to the Telegraph, Chelsea will do everything possible to keep talented youngster Charlie Webster at Cobham.

The 16-year-old Webster has been heralded as “one of the best of Chelsea’s next generation of talent” and was one of four named by the Telegraph’s Matt Law as players to watch coming through the Academy — alongside Tino Anjorin, whom we’ve seen make his debut already, as well as Henry Lawrence and Lewis Bate.

A more in-depth overview can be read from @chelseayouth, or listened to from the same on the this week’s London Is Blue Podcast, the first part of which is out already. Highly recommend both.

Webster, who’s slated to graduate to the U18 squad next season, won’t be able to sign a professional contract until January, when he turns 17. That’s over six months away yet, which gives plenty of time for stories such as the recent tabloid-specials about interest from Borussia Dortmund, for example.

But given Chelsea’s renewed emphasis on youth, Frank Lampard’s clear willingness to rely on youth when needed or possible, we should feel confident in Chelsea being able to hold on to the vast majority of our best talent — even if that is impossible in every case (such as in the case of Tariq Lamptey).