Despite being under a transfer ban, Chelsea could be about to offload a number of their fringe stars including Davide Zappacosta, who is set to leave the club on loan in order to promote the more youthful prospect of Reece James. The Standard claim that Frank Lampard is considering the departure of the Italian so that their young rising star can back up Cesar Azpilicueta at right-back next season.
Zappacosta has failed to make much of an impact at Stamford Bridge since joining the club for £23m plus add-ons from Serie A outfit Torino in 2017 – playing 52 matches of which just 13 were starts in the Premier League. It appears that many of Chelsea’s fanbase wouldn’t be too disheartened to see the 27-year-old right-back leave the club this summer.
One supporter labelled the transfer ban a blessing in disguise which was reinforced by another’s view that it could be the best transfer windows in four or five years. Others blamed the Italian for stalling the growth of their supremely talented academy, stating that Zappacosta was the exact kind of signing which plagued the development of the academy for years – referencing that as a reason to why Nathan Ake is no longer at the club.
James has never featured for Chelsea’s senior squad but hugely impressed on loan last season in the Championship with Wigan Athletic. The young star won a trio of awards at the end of season party following his successful season – he played 45 games, scoring three times, also laying on three assists and he even picked up seven Man of the Match awards.
Here’s the best of the reaction below:
This ban is blessing in disguise. @ChelseaFC is receiving sense.
— Oke Umurhohwo (@OkeStalyf) July 24, 2019
This is an excellent news
— TUNDE (@nicefrancis007) July 24, 2019
Zappacosta is the exact kind of calibre of signing which has plagued the development of our academy to the first team squad for years. It’s why the likes of Ake is no longer with us.
— fishinthedark (@fishinthedark1) July 24, 2019
Good I love that!
— Michael (@Michael06904105) July 24, 2019
If this happens, and I hope I’m not getting too much ahead of myself here, but if this happens, then this is the best transfer windows we’ve had in this club for about 4 or 5 years
— The highly favoured one (@__KingIsaiah) July 24, 2019
# smart move…….. There’s a need to tie down all high performing youngsters from the academy.
Brilliant move by chelsea— Eric (@Eric86694760) July 24, 2019
Great move for all, even though you wonder why a loan and not a sale. That doesn’t seem to make sense.
— Daniel ???????? (@ScandicAtheist) July 24, 2019
Just sell him. Won’t have much resale value in a few years. 4 full backs is enough.
— Michael Hynes (@mickeyhynes) July 24, 2019
