Chelsea academy staff fear their successful will be broken up once Roman Abramovich sells the club.
The Daily Mail says Chelsea have already lost out on signing at least one talented youngster since Abramovich was sanctioned and academy staff are worried that any new owner will not fund youth development the same way.
The academy, run by long-serving Neil Bath, has been a success of the Abramovich era, producing a crop of first-team stars such as Mason Mount and Reece James, as well as a host of Premier League-ready players for other clubs that have helped Chelsea bring in more than £1billion in fees over 10 years.
Of the £135million Chelsea raised in the transfer market last summer, £90m came from players the club produced themselves.
But with an annual budget of £10m the running costs are high, leading to questions over whether the investment will be sustained if the club are sold.
Need a VPN? Or seeking to switch? Then support Tribal Football by clicking here to sign up with our official partners NordVPN. Not only will you receive the best VPN experience, but also great discounts by signing up via Tribal Football. Thanks for your support!