Chelsea are monitoring Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor, according to transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano.
He caught the eye in Serie A playing as a centre-half and a left-wing-back.
Ahanor won 55 percent of his aerial and 62% of his ground duels last season. He helped to keep four clean sheets in 22 league appearances.
The Italian club has already rejected two offers for him, and it is unclear whether Chelsea can convince them to part ways.
He ‘has been touted as a potential star for some time now‘. Atalanta paid €16 million plus €4m in bonuses around this time last year for him.
Ahanor, who represents Italy at youth levels but is eligible to play for Nigeria through both parents, has continued to impress, attracting attention from big clubs like Chelsea.
Chelsea should leave Ahanor alone
Chelsea already have enough young defenders on their books who need a clear pathway to first-team football.
Aaron Anselmino and Mamadou Sarr are both looking to develop away from Stamford Bridge.
Josh Acheampong has shown enough potential to deserve continued opportunities with the senior side.
There is little point adding another teenage defender to an already crowded group and then figuring out where he fits.
Chelsea’s obsession with stockpiling young talent can become counterproductive when players are moved around or blocked from progressing naturally.
Ahanor may well develop into an excellent defender, but Chelsea do not need to sign every promising teenager who emerges.
They need to give the players they already have a genuine chance to establish themselves.
Ahanor should be left right where he is and allowed to develop without Chelsea tampering with his budding career.
