Chelsea have gone from being known as a team who spend silly money, to a team who have blown many others out of the water with their responsible approach to apply with financial fair play. As a result of this decision, they have become widely regarded as a football club with a talented array of youth players to be loaned. Chelsea’s loan system has been very rewarding over the past year, seeing the likes of Thibaut Courtois and Kurt Zouma return from loan spells to join the first team squad. As well as Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku being sold for big profits.
Now Chelsea have reportedly agreed terms on a £2.3million deal for Romanian teenage right-back Cristian Manea who plays his club football for Viitorul Constanta.
They have been monitoring the impressive progress made by Manea since last September and at the age of 17, he’s certainly one for the future. Entering the international scene at 16 years old last May against Albania, he became the youngest player to appear for the Romanian national team, breaking the previous record set by Gratian Sepi in 1928.
Many other major clubs have shown interest in the player including Arsenal and Ajax, who both are well known for bringing through young players. However Chelsea have moved fast and are said to have won the race for his signature as he’s expected to sign a five-year deal with the Blues. The next step would be a loan move to either our foreign friends Vitesse in the Eredivisie or Real Mallorca in the Segunda Division.
Operating predominantly as a right-back, Manea can also play at Centre-back. Standing at 6ft, his versatility could be a big factor as Chelsea may already be scouting for the new Branislav Ivanovic.
So only time will tell whether he will become a flying right-back like his counter-part and former blue Dan Petrescu, or whether he will become a strong and tenacious right-back like Ivanovic. Either way, the future is bright.
