Three Chelsea youngsters set to extend contracts to avoid Stamford Bridge youth exodus

Chelsea are set to extend the contracts of youngsters Dion Rankine, Charlie Webster and Malik Mothersille, according to reports.

Since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital completed the takeover of Chelsea, the owners have been heavily focused on recruiting young players for the future.

Signings such as Gabriel Slonina, Omari Hutchinson, Cesare Casadei and Carney Chukwuemeka were made in the summer transfer window.

This has been added to by the acquisition of Brazil U20 star Andrey Santos, while fellow youngsters David Datro Fofana and Noni Madueke also joined the club and will play a part in the first team.

Despite this focus on recruitment, Chelsea are not forgetting about the young stars that are already on the books at Stamford Bridge.

Reports believe that Jude Soonsup-Bell is heading for the exit door in the January transfer window in search for a pathway to regular first team football while several youngsters departed last summer.

In order to stop a mass youth exodus, it is now being reported that the club are set to extend the contracts of several of their youngsters.

As reported by the Athletic, Rankine is expected to sign a new contract to keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2025.

He has featured at wing-back during his time in the Chelsea youth ranks and could be seen as a future option in this position despite the Blues’ interest in Malo Gusto.

Rankine was out of contract at the end of the season but has been rewarded with a new deal, which is expected to be signed in the coming days.

It is yet to be decided as to what the short-term future holds for the 20-year-old, who could depart on loan in the January transfer window as several lower league English sides hold interest in him.

Furthermore, Nizaar Kinsella of the Evening Standard has reported that duo Mothersille and Webster will also be offered new deals.

He writes that Chelsea are confident of renewing the pair’s deals as they look to fear off the youth exodus.

Webster had seen interest from Borussia Dortmund and PSV while it was believed he could leave, but Chelsea have now convinced him to stay.

A ‘good financial package’ has been offered to both Webster and Mothersille to see them remain at the club despite concerns over potential pathways into the Blues’ first team.

Kinsella continues to report that Chelsea are keen to renew the contracts of other youth prospects such as Soonsup-Bell, but this looks less likely.

Silko Thomas, Tudor Mendel-Idowu and Sam Rak-Sakyi are in danger of leaving the club after interest from elsewhere but the Blues have managed to convince trio Mothersille, Rankine and Webster to remain on the books, for now.