Chelsea’s new ownership is making a concerted effort to emulate the success of the City Football Group, not only by recruiting coaches and staff but also by targeting individual players who fit into their broader strategy.
One notable success in this approach was Cole Palmer, who left Manchester City in search of more playing time at Chelsea. His decision paid off, with Palmer thriving at Stamford Bridge and even earning a call-up to the England national team. Another example is Romeo Lavia, another former City player who recently made the move to Chelsea. Now, the next player on the radar is Oscar Bobb, who, despite being 21, finds himself buried on City’s depth chart and looking for more consistent game time.
Chelsea hopes that Bobb sees the success of his former teammate Palmer and believes he could follow a similar path. According to Simon Phillips on his Substack, Bobb is still very much on Chelsea’s list, even though the majority of their summer business appears to be settled. Phillips adds that Chelsea’s previous attempts to sign Bobb were rejected because he believed he would be in line for more minutes at City this season, but that belief could change as the new season unfolds.
While many pundits were initially critical of Palmer for leaving City rather than waiting for his chance, it’s clear that his bold decision ultimately worked out. Although he may have won more trophies had he stayed, his move to Chelsea allowed him to showcase his talent on a bigger stage, gaining more recognition and a spot in the England squad.
However, as pointed out by CaughtOffside, there’s another side to the story. Bobb might look at players who made similar moves in the past two years and decide he doesn’t want to follow their path. The risk of not getting consistent playing time, or seeing his career stall like other young signings, could influence his decision.
