The Blues have vastly elevated the funding of their academy staff because the Boehly-Clearlake Capital takeover in the summertime, spending over £30million on the likes of Cesare Casadei and Carney Chukwuemeka.
Billed as ‘Vision 2030’, the technique is to create a teenage aspect beneath the primary staff to plug gaps when wanted, with the view of a long-term succession plan at Stamford Bridge.
19-year-old Fofana, who made his senior worldwide debut for the Ivory Coast on the age of simply 16, moved to Norwegian outfit Molde final yr on a four-year contract from Ivorian membership AFAD, primarily based within the financial capital and largest metropolis Abidjan.
In 65 appearances for Molde, {the teenager} has scored 24 targets and registered an additional 10 assists, successful each the home League and cup throughout his time with a staff that after boasted Erling Haaland and was once managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
He has 21 and 7 this season alone and already has expertise of European competitors beneath his belt within the Europa League.
Whereas an African Nations Championship recreation in opposition to Chad stays his solely senior cap for his nation so far, he will likely be hopeful of including enormously to that quantity within the years forward.
Fofana has beforehand spoken of his admiration of Chelsea, citing legendary compatriot and Blues icon Didier Drogba as an enormous inspiration in his personal profession.
Dream switch: David Datro Fofana is anticipated to finish a January transfer to Chelsea
/ AFP through Getty Pictures“Chelsea have been my favourite club since I was little,” he mentioned beforehand, talking to Norwegian outlet TV2. “Drogba performed there, in order that they have at all times been my membership. So it’s my dream.”
Chelsea are anticipated to pay in extra of €10million (£8.6m) for Fofana, who was not too long ago mentioned to be in talks with Graham Potter’s former membership Brighton. He had additionally been linked with the likes of Liverpool, Leicester and Bundesliga outfit Schalke in current months.
