COMMENT: So what has Patrick Roberts and Moussa Dembele to do with Chelsea? Well, if you care about their youth system, the answer is everything.
You've heard of Patrick Roberts. On the books at Manchester City, two years away with Celtic. Winning titles. Playing Champions League football. And alongside his Hoops teammate Dembele.
Three years ago, Roberts and Dembele were part of the Fulham team beaten by Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup final. It was the Blues' first of four triumphs in three years. Only thing is, for all that silverware, we're still to see any homespun talent breaking into the first team. Yeah, there's been glimpses, but finding the 'next John Terry' is still as far away as ever. Andreas Christensen, many will argue, has a chance. But after two years at Borussia Monchengladbach - and with Antonio Conte shopping for a new centre-half - can you really see the Dane getting a chance next season?
Of course, Roberts and Dembele, along with Emerson Hyndman, now of Bournemouth, have all moved away from Craven Cottage. But what must be concerning is no Blues player (apart from Christensen) is anywhere near close to the development and reputation of the ex-Cottagers pair. Winning the FA Youth Cup as a Chelsea player seems to be a career dead end.
So the question for Michael Emenalo, Chelsea's football director, and Jody Morris, the club's U18 coach, has to be: what exactly is your end goal?
They've been coming for Chelsea from all sides this past week. In Holland. In France. Even at home in London. Chelsea's academy system has been pulled apart.
News of Conte being on the brink of landing Tiemoue Bakayoko from AS Monaco infuriated Ray Wilkins, the former Chelsea coach.
"I was really disappointed to read they are looking at Bakayoko from Monaco. He is 22 years of age, French and doesn't get near the national side, but it was quoted Chelsea might be paying £32 million," said Ray.
“Well, in Nathaniel they have got a footballer that can play exactly the same but just needs an opportunity to get in there and play."
Wilkins was referring to Nathaniel Chalobah, who managed to make his Premier League debut in September. At the same age, Bakayoko has four years of top-flight experience under his belt. Can Ray really blame Conte for turning to the ASM man?
In Holland, Arnold Bruggink was jumping to the defence of Chalobah's teammate, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, slamming the way Chelsea had managed his career.
"Loftus-Cheek was only eighteen years old when he made his debut for Chelsea in the Champions League at the end of 2014," said the former striker. "He is now 21 and he had exactly thirty minutes last season in the Premier League. I find it tragic that such a talent for more than two years is treated like that."
Loftus-Cheek was the one Chelsea staff hung their hat on. They made him a millionaire at 16. Yet now? Coaching staff, both at Cobham and St George's Park, still haven't worked out his best position.
And then there's Bertrand Traore, where in France, Burkina Faso coach Paulo Duarte had no doubt Chelsea were blowing it allowing him to leave for Olympique Lyon.
"He is the next best player of Africa," said Duarte. "He will amaze the stadiums of France."
Traore will sign for OL for £15 million. Galatasaray also have an offer of £2.5 million on the table for Mario Pasalic. A nice little earner, sure. But justification for the club's extensive loan system? Not anymore.
When we're talking about £100 million transfers and billion pound TV deals, scraping around fees of £5-10 million for players signed - but to have never played - for Chelsea no longer makes sense. Five years ago, to skirt the Financial Fair Play laws, it was good football business. A decent sideline. But now? Like those four FA Youth Cups, you have to ask: what's the point?
The penny's dropped for some. Dominic Solanke saw 'red' and jumped. The Liverpool move wasn't done on a whim. Seeing Rhian Brewster, a former Blues trainee, make Jurgen Klopp's bench at 16 in the final weeks of the season made up his mind.
Solanke is a credit to everyone on staff at Cobham. He's proof the system works. From Under 8s to winning the FA Youth Cup. A star on-loan with Vitesse, where he drew comparisons with Ronaldo, no less. And now a World Cup winner and named the best U20 player on the planet. That's all down to Chelsea coaching. Yet, when it came to the crunch. When it came time for Solanke's Premier League career to launch - he chose to go north.
The best of his generation. A Chelsea lad through-and-through. But all that time. All those resources. Poured into a player for Liverpool's benefit? Like so much of the current Chelsea setup, you have to ask, what's the point?
