The Blues, led by manager Enzo Maresca and sporting director Laurence Stewart, appear determined to correct what they now see as a significant oversight by their rivals.
The player, who has been dubbed “the next Cole Palmer,” was released by City during his time in their youth academy, and Chelsea now believe they have a chance to capitalise on that mistake — potentially moving as early as tomorrow.
According to insiders at the club, Chelsea’s leadership regret seeing the teenager leave Manchester City without much fanfare, especially as they view him as an emerging star with the kind of creative flair that can light up the Premier League.
“We realize now that letting such a talent slip through our fingers would be a mistake,” a senior figure at Chelsea is quoted as saying.
They believe his style of play closely mirrors that of Cole Palmer — the Manchester City academy graduate who made a successful switch to Stamford Bridge last summer and quickly became a fan favorite with his quick feet, incisive passing and eye for goal.
That success story is clearly fresh in Chelsea’s mind as they look to unearth more gems with high ceilings.
Palmer’s rapid rise in West London has given the club confidence that a similar path could work for this up-and-coming midfielder too.
Reports suggest that he possesses a similar footballing brain, sharp technical ability and composure under pressure that belie his years.
Much like Palmer, the youngster is versatile across attacking midfield roles and can also influence the tempo of games — a skill that Chelsea’s recruiters view as invaluable.
The player originally left City simply because of the club’s wealth of talent in his position, making his release seem more a matter of numbers rather than ability.
Since then, he has gone on to establish himself at his current club in the Championship, earning rave reviews for his mature and assured displays.
Scouts have noted his composure, his game intelligence and his consistency — drawing comparisons not just to Palmer, but also to Phil Foden.
Chelsea, ever on the lookout for exciting homegrown talent, have kept close tabs on him for months.
Given the depth and competition for places in midfield at Stamford Bridge, the club believe that bringing him in would add creativity and energy — especially at a time when injuries to players like Christopher Nkunku and Carney Chukwuemeka have left the squad short of consistent options.
The move would also fit seamlessly into Maresca’s tactical philosophy, which emphasizes intelligent, adaptable players who can thrive in different positions.
More than simply bolstering the squad for next season, this transfer would also be a strong signal of Chelsea’s intent to keep identifying overlooked talent before rivals do.
The club is evolving its youth-focused recruitment and is determined to make up for past mistakes — especially those like missing out on the player before. Now that they have the chance again, Chelsea seem unlikely to hesitate.
If this move comes off, it would not only strengthen the team for years to come but also highlight Chelsea’s proactive, data-driven approach under its current leadership.
Supporters will be hoping this young star can live up to the hype and follow the path Cole Palmer has successfully blazed — a chance Chelsea clearly won’t want to miss again.
