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Nathaniel Chalobah on the verge of securing long-term contract with Chelsea

By George Perry

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Nathaniel Chalobah of Chelsea in action during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Chelsea and Brentford at Stamford Bridge on January 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Nathaniel Chalobah of Chelsea in action during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Chelsea and Brentford at Stamford Bridge on January 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images) /
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Victor Moses signed his contract extension with Chelsea last week. The Blues are set to reward their other long-serving loan army veteran, Nathaniel Chalobah, with a new contract at the end of this season.

Nathaniel Chalobah played 97 first-team matches across five different clubs before making his Chelsea debut in September. He finally appears to have a future at the club he joined when he was eight years old. Chalobah will likely sign a long-term contract at the end of this season, according to the Evening Standard.

Chalobah’s current contract runs through the end of next season. He signed that deal in August 2013, at the beginning of loan #2 to Nottingham Forest. Chalobah has made 13 appearances so far this season, including full-game starts in each of Chelsea’s FA Cup ties.

Like Victor Moses, Chalobah sufficiently impressed Antonio Conte during the pre-season to earn a spot in the 2016/17 squad. More significantly, he avoided another loan. His debut with 10 minutes remaining against Leicester City in the EFL Cup was a cathartic moment for many long-time Chelsea watchers. He made his Premier League debut with a 89′ run-out in the match that also debuted the 3-4-3.

Must read: Nathaniel Chalobah undefeated by personal tragedies, professional hurdles

The good news for Chalobah’s long-term future comes on the same day as some potential bad news for his near-term prospects. The Telegraph reports that Antonio Conte may play his Premier League XI against Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-finals. This would siphon off the one remaining, consistent opportunity for Chelsea’s young players to start.

With the EFL Cup already in hand, Jose Mourinho is determined to pursue the Mickey Mouse Treble. Mourinho left Wayne Rooney and Marcus Rashford behind for their Europa League tie against Rostov. His decision to rest these two stars in Europe all but guarantees they will face Chelsea on Monday.

Antonio Conte upped the quality of his squad to face Wolves, who were 18th in the Championship at the time. He will not retreat from that position of strength against a significant rival. If Chelsea progress past United into the semifinals, Conte will not do anything to lower his chances of winning his first domestic cup and, potentially, a debut double.

Next: Gary Cahill's forward play against West Ham further stakes his claim to the starting lineup

Nathaniel Chalobah likely assumed he would have to wait until Chelsea secured the title before making his first Premier League start. He may have to wait that long for his next start in any competition, and for more than 10 minutes of playing time. At least he has the promise of an extended spot in the team coming his way with a new contract.

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