Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount on Vitesse’s wishlist for Chelsea loanees
By George Perry
Vitesse Arnhem usually take the best of Chelsea’s loan prospects. This year they will face competition from Premier League clubs for Chelsea’s top loanee, Tammy Abraham.
After years as “Chelsea B,” Vitesse have every reason to expect to be first in line for Chelsea’s top players on loan. This year the situation is a bit different with Tammy Abraham in the mix. Newcastle and Brighton & Hove Albion are vying for Abraham to call their newly-promoted clubs his temporary home. The Blues should take a firm line with their loan farm to keep Abraham in the Premier League next season.
Tammy Abraham’s season at Bristol City showed that he is ready for Premier League football, and possibly even for Chelsea. A season of regular playing time in the top flight will set him up to enter Chelsea’s XI in the 2018/19 campaign.
A season at Vitesse will certainly progress his development, just not as quickly or aggressively as he deserves. After a year in the Eredivisie he would still be ready to settle in at Stamford Bridge. However, he may at that point only be ready for the domestic cup squad rather than as a regular Premier League or Champions League option.
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The opposite is true for Mason Mount, the other young Blue on Vitesse’s wishlist. Mount is an ideal candidate for a loan to the Dutch side. He has collected a raft of accolades at the academy and in the Premier League 2. He has little to gain from additional seasons at the U23 level in England, despite still being only 18.
The footballing culture and tactics in the Eredivisie would expand Mount’s technical abilities and understanding of the game. His style of play matches Vitesse’s well, and would encounter constructive opposition from the other top clubs like Ajax and PSV Eindhoven.
After a year or two at Vitesse, Mount should be ready to challenge for a spot on Chelsea’s squad. He would likely spend his first year training intensely but watching games from the bench. He would probably be a substitute in the domestic cup matches, and only towards the end of the season make a Premier League match-day squad.
More likely than not, the club would send him for a final loan period, hopefully within the Premier League or to the Bundesliga. Mount and the club would need to decide whether consistent playing time on loan is better for his development than training but playing less at Chelsea. Ideally, the club under Antonio Conte will overcome their aversion to giving 20-year olds a first team nod, particularly academy graduates.
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The Blues cannot let their relationship with the Dutch side interfere with Tammy Abraham’s trajectory. Chelsea will have plenty of players to offer and satisfy Vitesse in his stead. Mason Mount will surely have familiar faces around him if he spends next season in yellow and black.