Southampton in talks for 20-year-old Chelsea loanee impressing in mainland Europe

Transfer News: Southampton in talks over a deal for Chelsea youngster Tino Anjorin

As per the Evening Standard, Chelsea may be set to lose academy graduate Tino Anjorin to Southampton before the end of the January transfer window this Monday. The Saints appear to have taken a keen interest in the midfielder and are in talks with the Blues over a deal for the player.

In a transfer window with no major incomings for the Blues, the club is looking at a possible departure in the coming days. Chelsea’s stance on the matter makes it apparent that they do not believe that Anjorin can impact their first team, which is already stacked with world-class talent.

With a potential move to Southampton on the cards, Anjorin is busy cutting short his loan deal with Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow. Lokomotiv had taken the starlet on a loan deal at the beginning of the season, which included a £17m option for them to buy the player.

Anjorin could be set for a move again this month if talks with Southampton reach a conclusion before the end of January. A loan move to the Saints is not possible as they already have one Chelsea player, Armando Broja, on loan at St. Mary’s. With a permanent transfer the best solution this month, the Saints appear ready to return for the player next summer.

The Chelsea player on a temporary deal at the Saints is none other than Premier League’s latest young sensation Armando Broja, who has taken the league by storm since his arrival on the south coast. The Albanian has not only led the line for Southampton brilliantly but also discovered his scoring touch, turning into the side’s regular outlets for goals in his debut season in the top-flight.

The south coast club certainly seems to have become a home away from home for Chelsea’s academy graduates. The Blues have seen Southampton sign Dynel Simeu on a three-year deal at the end of last season before the Saints returned once again this season to sign Tino Livramento permanently and Broja on loan.

If the deal with Southampton does go through, then Chelsea will lose out on yet another talented Cobham product, departing the club before making a senior appearance. Although the Blues are famed for their academy, we have seen very few youth products establishing themselves in the first team. Most players seem to be departing the club for better opportunities elsewhere.

Anjorin seems to be on the same path, with a move out to another Premier League club being offered as a chance to establish himself as a regular player in the top-flight. Whether he will follow in the footsteps of Broja,  Livramento and Simeu remains to be seen.

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Southampton, meanwhile, are fresh off the back of a huge investment, following the takeover by Serbian billionaire Dragan Solak and his Sport Republic group. The side seems to be actively recruiting academy products who are clearly very talented but do not seemingly have a future in the senior squads at their respective clubs.

If the deal does pull through before the end of the month, the Saints will have gained a fabulous young talent, who they could turn into a player with the skills and discipline necessary to take on the biggest opponents. They seem to have done well with recruits who have come through Cobham recently. Whether Anjorin will soon join their ranks remains to be seen.