CHELSEA wonderkid Omari Hutchinson has been “summoned” to the club’s training ground for talks over his future, according to reports.
The attacking midfielder, 20, was an instrumental part of Ipswich’s promotion to the Premier League this season and was seen as one of the Tractor Boys’ most important players.
His 11 goals and six assists in 50 appearances saw him rewarded with Ipswich’s young player of the season but Chelsea have wasted no time in getting him back to train with their first-team.
The Athletic report that Mauricio Pochettino was particularly keen to get a look at Hutchinson in training before a decision is made on his future.
He’ll begin training with the Blues again next week after being given some time off to celebrate Ipswich’s promotion.
He’ll also have conversations with the club’s hierarchy as they look to plot out the young player’s future.
When asked by Sky Sports if he would return on loan to Ipswich again next season, Hutchinson said: “I hope so.
“I don’t know, we will see what the manager is saying and my agent. Right now, I am going to celebrate — I do not know what to do.”
He is understood to enjoy a close relationship with Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna so his future will be tied to the Northern Irishman – who is wanted by other clubs.
Huthcinson is attracting loan interest from across the Premier League, so a loan next season to another club cannot be ruled out.
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Ipswich are very keen to have the player back at Portman Road again next season.
Despite his imminent return to Chelsea training, he will not be able to appear for The Blues again this season, as he is technically still on loan at Ipswich.
One thing complicating his Chelsea future is the number of options The Blues have that can operate behind the striker.
Hutchinson would face competition from Cole Palmer, Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Carney Chukwuemeka and Conor Gallagher in his favoured position next season – making Loan more likely.
Chelsea’s need to comply with Premier League Profit and Sustainaility Rules (PSR) means he could be sold to the highest bidder should they decide he does not have a log-term future at the club.
Hutchinson joined The Blues on a free from rivals Arsenal in the summer of 2022 – the Gunners will be entitled to a sell-on fee should Hutchinson be sold by Chelsea this summer.
By Andy Dillon
IT IS HIGHLY unlikely that Mauricio Pochettino is familiar with the work of Rumi.
Whether the renowned Islamic poet and mystic had the tactical dilemmas facing Chelsea’s head coach in mind while dreaming up his scholarly works in 13th century Afghanistan, we will never know.
It’s fair to say Rumi was not a regular in The Shed at Stamford Bridge.
Yet one of his most famous quotations strikes right at the heart of Pochettino’s problems trying to transform his team into consistent challengers at the top end of the Premier League.
It was Rumi who wrote so prophetically: “Two birds tied together. They will not be able to fly even though they have four wings.”
He could have scribbled that on the back of his programme from so many of Chelsea’s games this season with regard to Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.
There is a feeling among regular Chelsea watchers that while it is a blow on a personal level for Fernandez to be ruled out for the rest of the season with his injury problem, it may yet turn to Pochettino’s advantage.
For it allows Caicedo to roam that patch in front of his defence with greater freedom. Both players are exceptional individual talents.
Read Andy Dillon’s take on Chelsea’s midfield in full.
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