Crystal Palace have reportedly enquired about signing a Chelsea first-team player on loan this summer.
In recent years, Chelsea have conducted plenty of transfer business with Premier League rivals Crystal Palace.
For example, the Blues loaned Trevoh Chalobah, followed by Ben Chilwell, to Palace in the 2024/25 season. Similarly, former Chelsea midfielders Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Conor Gallagher each spent time on loan at Selhurst Park as part of their development.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca wants around a maximum of 23 first-team players in his squad for next year, so it’s quite clear that there needs to be plenty of exits in the remainder of the transfer window to trim down the group size.
Crystal Palace make Chelsea’s Josh Acheampong their priority signing
According to The Telegraph, Palace have enquired about taking Chelsea’s Josh Acheampong on a season-long loan.
It is explained that the 19-year-old defender is highly rated at Stamford Bridge, but Palace have identified him as a ‘primary target’.
The report adds that the Eagles think the Chelsea academy graduate would be the ‘perfect’ addition to Oliver Glasner’s squad because of his versatility to play right-back or centre-half.
Acheampong is the latest wonderkid to develop in Cobham and break into the senior group, but now he’s linked with a first loan move of his career.
Acheampong has been tipped for a huge future by the scout who discovered him as a youngster, so it’s no surprise a top Premier League club are now sniffing around.
Josh Acheampong is ready for more first-team football
Without a doubt, Acheampong looks equipped to play more senior football next season. Will he get that opportunity in Chelsea colours, though?
The teenage defender has made 14 first-team appearances for Chelsea since his promotion from the academy, including one superb performance at the Club World Cup in the group stages.
| Minutes played | Accurate passes | Chances created | Tackles won | Interceptions | Duels won | Dribbled past | Match rating |
| 90 | 89/91 (95%) | 1 | 1/1 (100%) | 1 | 6 | 0 | 8.0 |
Acheampong is hugely admired by Chelsea fans, and they think he deserves more opportunities to play. However, he is competing with Reece James and Malo Gusto for the right-back spot.
At the moment, we feel Acheampong should be staying with the Blues squad because he’s got the ability to make a huge contribution next season if the manager trusts him more.
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