Highly rated Chelsea academy graduate Tino Anjorin is close to signing a new long-term deal at Stamford Bridge.
The 18-year-old has more than a year to run on his current Blues deal but is now expected to finalise extended terms to keep him in west London, the PA news agency understands.
Anjorin is the latest in a string of home grown stars to make a Stamford Bridge breakthrough this term, and the move towards a new contract underscores boss Frank Lampard’s confidence in the England Under-19 star’s potential.
Tino Anjorin, pictured, is close to signing a new contract with Chelsea (Simon Cooper/PA)
The coronavirus shutdown has thrown up a host of new challenges for Premier League clubs attempting to reshuffle their squads, especially in terms of recruitment.
While all sport is mothballed and travel impossible, clubs are turning to video chats to conduct due diligence on potential signings, which would normally be conducted in person.
The business of recruitment and retention may move more slowly but has not ground to a halt, and Anjorin’s fresh deal at Chelsea continues to edge towards completion.
The Premier League’s current suspension until April 30 is expected to be extended again, but top-flight bosses remain determined to complete the current campaign.
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Former Chelsea and England midfielder Lampard’s west London revolution continues to revolve around youth, even though the Stamford Bridge club will be able to buy big in the close season.
Chelsea’s transfer ban last summer denied Lampard the opportunity to put his stamp on the squad through new recruits, and the Blues opted against making any signings in the January window.
Blues bosses chose to hang fire in January in a bid to avoid paying above the odds and were quickly rewarded when sealing a £34million deal to bring Ajax’s Hakim Ziyech to Stamford Bridge in the summer.
Chelsea’s main transfer priority now is understood to remain at left-back, where Leicester’s Ben Chilwell has been a long-term target.
Dorset-born Anjorin joined Chelsea’s development centre programme at under-sevens level, officially signing for the club two years later.
The home-grown midfielder made his senior debut when Chelsea thrashed Grimsby 7-1 in the Carabao Cup in September.
And on March 8 he came off the bench for his Premier League bow as the Blues routed Everton 4-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Frank Lampard, pictured, continues to put his faith in Chelsea’s young talents (Adam Davy/PA)
Anjorin’s breakthrough has helped Lampard set a new Chelsea record, by handing out eight debuts to academy products at Stamford Bridge this season.
Striker Armando Broja’s late cameo in that comfortable Everton victory meant Lampard surpassed the seven debuts handed out by Ted Drake in Chelsea’s 1956-57 season.
Mason Mount, Reece James, Billy Gilmour, Marc Guehi, Tariq Lamptey and Ian Maatsen are the others to enjoy first-team debuts under Lampard this term.
Striker Tammy Abraham and defender Fikayo Tomori have established themselves as first-team regulars this season, providing the Blues with two more home-grown success stories.
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