Romano drops transfer update on 'really appreciated' Chelsea star

Tom Weber

• Updated: 4 Oct 2024 12:29 BST
• 3 min read

Fabrizio Romano has fully dismissed any transfer speculation surrounding Chelsea youngster Josh Acheampong.

The 18-year-old is one of the most highly-rated players to come out of the Blues' Cobham academy in recent times, but he has only featured in 27 minutes so far under Enzo Maresca.

After being handed his debut by Mauricio Pochettino last season, Maresca gave him a brief cameo in the 5-0 Carabao Cup victory over League Two side Barrow, but the youngster has not managed to get on the pitch since.

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This is despite the fact that Reece James and Malo Gusto, the club's two senior right-backs, have struggled for fitness. Given that Acheampong is highly rated, his lack of minutes has inevitably led to transfer speculation.

The teenager has been associated with a move to Newcastle United, who have made a habit of snapping up Chelsea academy products in recent times, signing Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento.

Romano on Acheampong

However, according to Fabrizio Romano, there is nothing to this rumour. In fact, the Italian claims that there is no Acheampong 'situation;' his future is simply not a topic of discussion at Chelsea as things stand.

“There’s no 'situation' at all with Josh Acheampong,” Fabrizio Romano told CaughtOffside . “He’s a Chelsea player, considered part of the project and an important talent, and he’s also really appreciated by Enzo Maresca and his staff.

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“No story, no talks with Newcastle or any other club, nothing. Acheampong is one of the players trusted by Chelsea and there are no movements ongoing.”

Maresca said of the 18-year-old last month: "I really like Josh. For me, he can potentially be a top defender in the future. With young players, I like to modify them a little bit. Today, they can change really quick. They can think they are so good, or so bad, but you need to moderate a bit the way they join us."