Academic graduate in return to Chelsea to solve Pochettino's problem

Chelsea have signed a sold a whole load of players in recent years, but one departure could soon make a return to Stamford Bridge

Chelsea could be about to admit to making a mistake in the transfer market, with the return of an academy graduate potentially on the cards. 

In the past few transfer windows, Chelsea have sold multiple players to have come through the academy, with Mason Mount, Marc Guehi, Fikayo Tomori, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi - among plenty of others - departing Stamford Bridge. 

The hierarchy could look to atone for one of those sales in the upcoming windows, after realising that the academy graduate's replacement certainly didn't live up to expectations. 

Mason Mount of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea and AFC Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on December 27, 2022 in London, United Kingdom.

Academy graduates like Mount have left Chelsea in their droves

Indeed, Chelsea sold Tammy Abraham to Roma for £34m in 2021, with then-manager Thomas Tuchel desperate to bring Romelu Lukaku to the club. That move didn't work out, however, with the Belgian now playing alongside Abraham in Italy on loan. 

Roma are keen on making that move permanent, though, according to Italian outlet Calciomercato, and could offer Abraham in exchange for Lukaku at the end of the season. Chelsea reportedly want just £37m for the 30-year-old, despite signing him for £100m just two seasons ago.

But Chelsea could be about to admit selling Abraham to sign Lukaku was a mistake, with the Gillarossi willing to test their resolve with a swap deal.

Lukaku is now with Abraham at Roma, but a swap deal could be on the cards

Abraham scored 21 Premier League goals over the course of his two seasons in the first-team at Chelsea, before moving onto Roma where he linked up with Jose Mourinho. 

While in Italy, the 26-year-old started life strongly, bagging 27 goals in his debut season. He struggled more so last term, though, before picking up an ACL injury on the final day of the campaign.

Lukaku, meanwhile, failed to settle in his second spell at Chelsea, lasting just a season before being loaned out to Inter Milan. While he did manage 15 goals for the Blues in 2021/22, a falling out with Tuchel didn't help matters, while the change in ownership signalled a new direction for the club, too.