Chelsea have rejected multiple approaches for young defender Josh Acheampong, with the club reportedly viewing him as one of their untouchables. And honestly, you can see why they are digging their heels in on this one.
Acheampong, still only a teenager, has been turning heads at Stamford Bridge for a while now. The right back has pace, composure and an athleticism that makes him look like a player built specifically in a lab to play modern football. Whoever has been sniffing around him clearly has good taste, even if Chelsea have sent them away with a very firm no.
Now, Chelsea's transfer activity over the last few years has been... let's call it colourful. They have signed what feels like four hundred players since Todd Boehly took over, some of whom you would struggle to pick out of a lineup. So when they actually identify someone from their own academy as untouchable, that means something. It suggests the people making decisions at the club genuinely believe this lad has the quality to be a first team regular for years to come, and they do not want to make the mistake of letting him walk out the door for a fee they will regret.
From a pure football standpoint, keeping young British talent in the Premier League is always a good thing. Too often clubs cash in on promising academy products only to watch them flourish somewhere else and spend the next decade quietly regretting it. Chelsea have done that before with plenty of players who went on to have excellent careers elsewhere while the club bought in expensive replacements that never quite worked out.
Acheampong staying put and continuing to develop in a competitive environment is the best thing for everyone involved, including the England setup further down the line if he continues on his current trajectory. Sometimes the best transfer business is the business you do not do, and Chelsea seem to understand that here.
For a United fan like me, it is a little painful admitting Chelsea are doing something sensible, but credit where it is due. Let me know your thoughts.