Chelsea starlet Edwin Andersson in talks over move to Stoke City – John Percy
Chelsea are in talks with Championship side Stoke City over a move for Swedish starlet Edwin Andersson, according to John Percy.
The 18-year-old joined Chelsea from IFK Gothenburg in 2020 and has dazzled in the Under-18 Premier League since his arrival.
He is now set to make his senior bow in English football, with Percy reporting via Twitter that Stoke City are hopeful of tying up a deal for him.
The report did not specify whether the move would be a loan or a permanent move, though he is now entering the final year of his contract.
Stoke would represent a massive step up for the Swede, with The Potters finishing 14th in the Championship last season.
Is it a good move?
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Stoke are a turbulent club right now after their promising start to the 2021/22 season faded away and they slipped down to midtable.
While they are a big club and play at a very competitive level, there are concerns over whether or not Andersson would fit in at Stoke.
Manager Michael O’Neill often favoured a back three or back five last season, occasionally also playing a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 when needed.
The issue is that Andersson is an out-and-out wide player, able to play on either wing or at wide midfield on either side.
He has found great success in this position, scoring six goals and getting eight assists in 20 matches in the Under-18 Premier League last season.
Stoke have previous for freezing out young wingers, dropping Jaden Philogene-Bidace after he recovered from an injury as they had switched back to a back three after using a 4-3-3 when he was fit.
The arrival of Andersson could signal a change in system for The Potters, just as Philogene-Bidace did last season, but whether O’Neill would stick to it is unclear.
The Chelsea starlet is definitely one to watch for the future but Stoke will have to change their system to accommodate him.
In other Chelsea news, Tino Anjorin could be set for a move to Everton.