By Joe Ellis

5th Sep, 2022 | 4:45pm

Chelsea ready bid to sign Fulham starlet Luke Harris - report

Chelsea are looking to further invest in their academy and have identified Fulham midfielder Luke Harris as an option, according to the Evening Standard.

The Blues have already secured Charley Webster to a new deal at Stamford Bridge but they want to make their sides even stronger and have looked to their local rivals for reinforcement.

The 17-year-old from Jersey impressed the coaches at Chelsea earlier in the season as he scored a hat-trick from midfield for the Cottagers’ Under-21 team in the Premier League 2.

Chelsea are thought to be preparing a bid to sign the teenager who has been tipped for a shock call-up to the Wales squad having modelled his game on Everton manager Frank Lampard.

Harris has also been involved in Marco Silva’s senior side for three of their first six Premier League games this season while making his debut for the club in the Carabao Cup against Crawley Town.

Hoarding

Chelsea are no different to any other club in the world that wants to have all of the best young talents for themselves but they have to be careful not to be ridiculous about it.

They have reportedly paid £40million in signing academy players this summer already and Harris would be another who costs a whole amount and he might never play for the first team anyway.

No club should be buying players just to play for the academy sides and make sure they are challenging near the top of their own division.

Harris should be staying at Craven Cottage by any means possible as that is where he is most likely to get game time in the Premier League right now.

He will probably end up on loan somewhere in the Football League which would be ideal for him but if he goes to Chelsea, he can kiss goodbye to any hopes he has of being a genuine Premier League talent down the line.