Chelsea prospect Gabriel Slonina has caught the attention of the club’s owners, according to reports.
The Athletic claims that Chelsea’s American owners have noticed the impressive work ethic from the 18-year-old youngster in training.
It is understood that the teenager is regularly one of the first to arrive and one of the last to leave at Cobham every day.
The report adds that the 6ft 4in goalkeeper has settled in really quickly to his new surroundings.
Slonina, who’s started playing games for Chelsea’s Under-21s side, cost the club £12million to sign last summer from Chicago Fire.
The United States international is yet to make a first-team debut for the Blues, but he’s regularly spotted training with the senior group of goalkeepers at Cobham.
He claimed last month that he already feels himself improving and getting better alongside senior players.
At the age of 18, Slonina is still ridiculously young and at the beginning of his career.
We suggest that a loan deal could be perfect for him next season if Graham Potter doesn’t see a route for him into the first team.
It’s fantastic to hear what goes on behind the scenes at Cobham.
Fans are automatically going to appreciate and love players that go the extra mile, especially when they’re youngsters learning the game.
It’s hard to know right now how far Slonina could be off challenging for a position in the Chelsea first team, which is why testing him at a Premier League or Championship club could make sense in the immediate future.
Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy, the two main keepers at Stamford Bridge, do still divide opinion within the fanbase. Therefore, we think the long-term goalkeeper position may be up for grabs.
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