Chelsea could be about to beat Arsenal to another brilliant signing as talks continue with Premier League club

Chelsea have joined Arsenal and Tottenham in the race to sign highly-rated Southampton Under-15 defender Harley Emsden-James this summer. The 14-year-old reportedly fits the profile of players Chelsea are looking at and is seen as one for the future.

The Daily Mail reports that Southampton know they face a real fight to hold on to Emsden-James, who has developed incredibly well over the last couple of seasons. The defender, who is only 14, has reportedly already informed the club of his desire to leave this summer. With Chelsea looking to make Cobham the hotbed of talent in Europe, it could be enough to move him from Southampton to West London.

Southampton’s academy is widely recognized as one of the best in Europe, with the likes of Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana, and Luke Shaw all emerging from the club’s youth ranks.

Chelsea have signed some exciting talents already. Neymar has particularly been impressed with Estevao Willian for the style and energy he brings to the field.

The Blues have also signed Kendry Páez, who is tipped to be one of the best footballers of his generation, having already started playing for his country. Last season, they broke the bank for Moises Caicedo, who is regarded by many as one of the best defensive midfielders in the league, and also signed Enzo Fernandez for a huge fee.

There have been questions about the overall strategy of the club and where they are heading, but the owners have held their own and insisted on signing young players with long-term contracts to ensure they extract maximum benefits when they hit their peak.