Chelsea boss Graham Potter insists the club’s spending spree since their takeover will not prevent young academy players from getting opportunities.
Since a consortium led by Todd Boehly completed their takeover of Chelsea last year, the club has spent more than £600m on new signings across two windows – including the £105m addition of midfielder Enzo Fernandez on the final day of the January transfer window.
But Potter insists the spending spree will not impact the chances young players will get in the first team.
“No I don’t think so, you’ve got to manage both parts,” Potter said when asked whether the policy of developing the club’s own youngsters has taken a back seat.
“It isn’t easy with the aspirations of the club generally anyway to take players from the academy into the first team in the Premier League, certainly as you go higher with the demands of this club.
“But, for example, Lewis Hall has had an opportunity and has played first-team football this year from the academy and at 18-years-old.
“That’s not straightforward to do, but that part of the job doesn’t change.
“Of course we still have to look how we can strengthen the team and help the team in the market as well.”
As well as incomings, the transfer window saw Jorginho leave the Blues for rivals Arsenal and Potter said: “For the four months I’ve worked with him, he’s been fantastic.
“His service to this club has been brilliant with what he’s achieved.
“Sometimes you have to make a decision as a football club with the contract situation he had and the opportunity he had to secure something a little bit more for his family.”
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