World Cup winner Clarke-Salter anticipating loan move away from Chelsea

Chelsea’s Under-20 World Cup winner Jake Clarke-Salter admits his immediate future lies away from Stamford Bridge, but the starlet does believe he can make the grade in south-west London.

The Blues have built up a reputation for being one of the worst clubs to give youngsters opportunities at first team level, often shipping players out on loan indefinitely before selling them on.

But Clarke-Salter is one of Chelsea’s brightest prospects, and alongside another Blues defender in Fikayo Tomori, helped guide Paul Simpson’s Young Lions to a maiden World Cup triumph on Sunday – England’s biggest international title since 1966

The 19-year-old – who has already won the FA Youth Cup three times and the UEFA Youth League twice – played four times throughout the tournament, including the semi-final and final victory over Venezuela.

And while he is anticipating a loan move this season away from Chelsea to gain valuable first-team experience, Clarke-Salter is relishing the challenge and the thought of improving even further.

“Everyone was away from their families for about five weeks and I think that helps you grow up in itself,” he said.

“You’ve got to just knuckle down and it is all football, football, football in a major competition, so I think that helped a lot.

“I think a few of the boys must have felt nerves [for the final] as it was shown on BBC2 and it was everywhere so we felt the pressure, but we rose to it, we got the result.

“Next season I think will most likely be a loan for me, to get some more vital experience I need to hopefully come back and fight for a place in the first team soon.”