Chelsea are now on the verge of selling a youngster who’s been on the club’s books since 2016.
Unfortunately, there’s not room in Chelsea’s first-team squad for every bright talent that emerges from the academy at Cobham.
It’s just been claimed in the transfer rumour mill that a 21-year-old Blues prospect could be about to exit Stamford Bridge on a permanent basis.
Chelsea youngster now close to leaving
Wigan Today claims that Chelsea youngster Dion Rankine is to complete a move to League One club Wigan Athletic.
It is understood that Wigan or closing in on a deal for the versatile wide player.
Rankine, 21, is comfortable playing as either a wing-back or a more conventional winger.
The report adds that there’s a permanent deal on the table from Wigan for the Chelsea prospect.
He spent last year playing regularly for the League One side Exeter City during a season-long loan, playing 36 matches across all competitions.
Now, the English wide man is set to leave Chelsea permanently.
Good luck to Dion Rankine
Rankine played a lot of youth football in Chelsea colours after joining the club as an Under-14.
He’s never made a first-team appearance for the Blues, but let’s hope he can carve out a good career for himself in the Football League.
Described as a player with “lightning pace” by former Exeter boss Matt Taylor in 2021 (Exeter’s website), Rankine does have bags of potential and is still at the very infancy of his football development.
With only one year left on his Chelsea deal, now feels like a good time for all parties to go their separate way.
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox
