You’d certainly have your work cut out trying to rank the best players forged in the fires of Chelsea’s academy.
Top spot could easily go to a number of Cobham scholars, who since breaking into senior football have earned the highest grades possible.
Mason Mount, Reece James, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori can all stake a claim for first prize.
But there is a category just below that also needs a winner.
Chelsea’s talent pool continues to grow
Some of Chelsea’s finest products are still waiting to celebrate their 22nd birthday, which is quite remarkable considering what they have gone on to achieve.
So, who is the best player aged 21 or below born into blue?
Well, according to ESPN, that accolade goes to Jamal Musiala.
Before breaking records at Bayern Munich, Musiala played at youth level for the reigning European champions.
The teenager spent nearly a decade in South West London before joining Bayern in 2019, where he has become the embodiment of the club’s future.
ESPN rank Musiala seventh in their list of Europe’s finest youngsters, 24 places above Marc Guehi.
Chelsea sold the defender to Crystal Palace last summer, ending a near lifelong relationship with Stamford Bridge.
Scroll up a little bit more and Tino Livramento’s name will appear.
From Livramento to another Chelsea graduate
Like Guehi, Livramento left the Blues before the 2021/22 campaign began in the quest for regular Premier League football.
He certainly found that at Southampton, where the 19-year-old quickly established himself as a regular under Ralph Hasenhuttl.
But the defender was devastatingly struck down by an ACL injury last weekend, putting a premature end to what had been a terrific debut season by the south coast.
The player positioned one below Livramento on ESPN’s inventory knows all about the ins and outs of the treatment room.
Callum Hudson-Odoi might be near the very front of the queue, had he not been struck down repeatedly by injury across his career.
He hasn’t featured for Chelsea since the 3-2 FA Cup victory over Luton at the beginning of March.
Do you agree that Livramento is a better prospect than Hudson-Odoi? Let us know in the comments below.
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