According to The Pitch Prospect, Chelsea have told Josh Acheampong that he will not play for the club until he signs a new contract.
The Blues starlet is one of the most highly rated young players at his Cobham academy but now faces an uncertain future.
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It is understood the teenage right-back, whose current contract runs until 2026, has been informed of the conditions surrounding his exile at Stamford Bridge.
The 18-year-old will not play for the Blues’ first team or development team until his long-term future with the west London club is secured.
He has attracted interest from Real Madrid and Liverpool, but The Pitch Prospect understands the Chelsea hierarchy do not want to sell him.
Rival clubs are likely to have difficulty scouting the youngster properly anyway, following recent news that Liverpool and another major Premier League rival have been barred from attending Chelsea youth team games due to the Reds’ signing of former Blues youngster Rio Ngumoha were excluded.
Acheampong has made two senior appearances for the club, making his debut last season under Mauricio Pochettino.
The youngster came on as a late substitute in the 2-0 Premier League home win against Tottenham.
Before Pochettino’s departure in the summer, he was unused in four further games across all competitions that season.
Current coach Enzo Maresca brought the teenage star into the game in the final 27 minutes of Chelsea’s 5-0 win over Barrow in the third round of the Carabao Cup.
Acheampong was also on the bench in the UEFA Conference League qualifying second leg against Servette in August.
Most of his minutes this season have come for Chelsea’s U21 team in Premier League 2, where he provided one assist in three appearances.
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Last season he played nine times for the U18s and the FA Youth Cup before heading out on the first team’s pre-season tour in the summer.
Chelsea currently have Reece James and Malo Gusto as right-back options in the senior team.
The former is the club’s captain but has spent most of the season injured and only returned on Sunday in the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool.
During his absence, Gusto stepped in, although Axel Disasi and Wesley Fofana also performed there.
James and Gusto remain key members of Maresca’s squad, meaning Acheampong’s chance of further first-team minutes could be limited.
He is also an England youth international who has played for every team from U16 to U20.