Chelsea to offer starlet Charly Musonda new contract to warn off Manchester United and Arsenal
CHELSEA want to tie superstarlet Charly Musonda down a new long-term deal, to warn off Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United, according to reports.
The 20-year-old has broken into the first team this season and caught the eye of Europe’s top clubs.
And the Standard claims the Blues will now open talks with the Belgium under-21 ace over an extension to the current contract that ends in 2019.
After graduating from the academy, Musonda signed a four-year contract in 2015 worth £12,000-a-week.
The midfielder spent 2016 on loan at Real Betis and impressed but his spell was cut short when playing time dried up under former boss Gus Poyet.
Antonio Conte decided to keep the playmaker at Stamford Bridge for this season and he made his full debut in a 5-1 EFL Cup win over Nottingham Forest, scoring the third goal.
As a just reward, Musonda was on the bench against Stoke at the weekend but failed to get on despite his side cruising to a 4-0 win.
The slim talent has revealed that he is getting tips from Eden Hazard on how to bulk-up and handle himself in the Premier League.
latest chelsea news
Latest Champions League odds
Musonda said: "I know I definitely have to put more muscle on (like Eden did). It is a very physical league.
"English football is very tough.
"You can have the skill but you need to add the physical part to it.
“I am still young and will have to continue developing.
"I'm patient and I have time.”
And Conte feels the player’s versatility is another attribute on his side as he aims to break into his title-defending side.
The Belgian is hotly tipped to be a goal-scoring midfielder or a flying winger but Conte believes he could even pop up in the Chelsea defence later on in his young career.
The Italian said: “We’re talking about a young player with really good prospects.
"Now it’s important that he’s working very well.
“In my mind he could play like No.10 or like a winger and in the future he could play also as a wing-back.”
The summer transfer window was one the craziest we have ever seen.
Take a look at the most profitable transfers of ALL time.
And here are the Premier League players whose wages made them the most expensive per minute played.