What next for Nathan Baxter at Chelsea?
Talking on the League of 72 podcast (h/t Hull Live), Hull City coach Barry Richardson lavished praise on Nathan Baxter, a Chelsea academy product who will return to the club after his loan stint ends. The future of the goalkeeper is expected to be a major topic of discussion this summer.
Barry Richardson’s statements appear to imply that Baxter’s return will challenge Thomas Tuchel’s first-team setup in west London following a decent stint at Hull City. The goalkeeping coach also believes that the Chelsea loanee has a bright future ahead of him.
“He’s a very balanced young man but has a real desire to play at the top level. I think his future is really bright,”
He was also praised by Hull City’s coach for being cool, steady, and making big saves, as well as being well-organized during the Championship matches. He also seems to have improved a lot physically.
Baxter has had several loan spells in the past, playing in League One, League Two, and non-league to develop experience and confidence. The loanee surpassed Matt Ingram to become Hull City’s number one and has developed into a competent Championship keeper.
Baxter kept seven clean sheets in his 14 games prior to Saturday’s 5-0 defeat at Bristol City. He’s suddenly a lot closer to making it to the Chelsea main team than he was a year ago, according to Richardson.
“All of a sudden, he’s a lot closer to playing for Chelsea than he was 12 months ago. I think, physically, he’s in the best shape of his life and that’s one promise I made him when he came in.”
Amid the ownership saga and speculation about the departures of some star players, the Blues have some good news to celebrate. These remarks from Hull City’s coach will undoubtedly bolster the team’s trust in this youngster as he prepares to return to his boyhood club.
These remarks from Hull City’s coach not only increase the team’s confidence in the player but also shed some light on how the Blues can utilise some of their loaned out players if this summer transfer window doesn’t go according to plan.
With the change in ownership yet to be announced, the club’s immediate and long-term future remains up in the air. There is still the month of May to go, when Chelsea stand the chance to win the FA Cup, but surely players, staff, and the fans will be thinking about what happens to the club this summer, and beyond that.
Kepa Arrizabalaga has been brilliant whenever called upon this season and deputised well for Edouard Mendy when the Senegalese was away at AFCON. The Spaniard isn’t close to becoming our first-choice goal in the presence of the ex-Stade Rennais stopper and is continuously linked with a move away from the Bridge.
In such an instance, it is important that Chelsea have a ready-made replacement within their ranks. Baxter could be that man. Even if the ex-Athletic Bilbao star stays, teams nowadays aren’t averse to the concept of having three decent goalies in their squad- look at Liverpool, for example, who employ Adrian San Miguel despite the presence of Alisson Becker and Caiomhin Kelleher.
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