Progress Report on Chelsea Youngster Lewis Baker

The subject of Chelsea and the rising talent the club has in the academy refuses to go away. Now Lewis Baker has just added to it. 

The midfielder was in sensational form during the recent Toulon Tournament with the England under-21s, scoring four goals en route to Gareth Southgate’s side finishing up as champions.

Baker has been on loan with Vitesse Arnhem for the past year and his form in France suggests he is beginning to mature into a player worthy of featuring in Antonio Conte’s new-look Chelsea next season.

The manager has it all to do when he takes over post-Euro 2016. Conte is inheriting a club that remains in a state of flux and the feeling is that his appointment is one of the most important in the club’s recent history.

The decisions Conte makes this summer will impact the club’s immediate future and that in itself will play a big part in where Chelsea position themselves in the next five years. Will the Blues be a dominant side in European football? Or will they join Manchester United by yo-yoing in and out of the Champions League and Europa League? Worse still, will they be a club playing European football at all?

Share Tweet

Conte needs to invest money in his squad, but equally the need to nurture the homegrown talent Chelsea have is vital.

What Baker’s Toulon form has hinted at is that he isn’t just a name for academy enthusiasts to be quoting anymore. There is much more substance to him than that.

To break into Chelsea’s first-team, young stars have to justify their position alongside some world-class names. Potential isn’t enough; these players have to demonstrate they can make the step up. That comes with performing at every opportunity, where it be on …

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com