Chelsea sold "sensational" ace for £5m, now he's a bigger star than James

Chelsea’s youth academy has provided a continuous flow of talents who have managed to make the jump into the first team over the last couple of years.

Many have made their mark at Stamford Bridge before leaving in a big-money transfer, subsequently allowing Enzo Maresca to spend money and further improve his side.

Mason Mount left in a £60m deal to join Manchester United back in the summer, ending his 18-year stint in West London, making just shy of 200 senior appearances for his boyhood club.

He’s since struggled to make an impact away from the capital, with injuries restricting him to 33 games in the last two seasons – showcasing the right call made by the hierarchy to offload him.

One other academy graduate has starred in recent months, producing a performance to remember on international duty last night, looking to put his career back on track after his own fitness issues.

Reece James’ stats for England against Latvia

Right-back Reece James made his breakthrough into the first team setup back in 2019/20, often being a key member of the Chelsea side, but injuries have often halted progress.

However, he’s managed to stay fit as of late, often taking the armband in Maresca’s squad, leading to Thomas Tuchel calling him up for the latest England squad for the ongoing international break.

The 25-year-old started the meeting with Latvia, producing an excellent display, even managing to net his first goal for his country with an impressive free-kick during the first half – earning him the Man of the Match award.

His underlying stats were just as impressive, completing 96 of his 97 attempted passes, notching a total of 118 touches in an all-round superb showing at Wembley.

However, despite his recent form for club and country, the Blues could’ve had themselves a bigger talent than James had they kept hold of another player who’s taken his career to the next level after leaving.

The former Chelsea player who’s become a bigger talent than James

Chelsea have often been prone to a mistake or two in the transfer market, often selling players before their prime and missing out on elite level stars – subsequently benefitting other Premier League sides.

Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne both departed the Bridge for bargain fees, before developing elsewhere, now featuring for Liverpool and Manchester City respectively – helping the clubs achieve success in England’s top-flight.

Tino Livramento is another star who’s thrived away from West London after moving on, leaving for Southampton in a £5m deal back in the summer of 2021.

The 22-year-old has since impressed at St Mary’s despite their failures in recent years, notching 31 appearances for the Saints, before linking up with Newcastle United back in August 2023.

He’s since managed to thrive under Eddie Howe’s guidance, looking to be worth every penny of his £40m transfer fee, helping the Magpies claim the Carabao Cup a couple of weeks ago.

This season, the “sensational” Livramento, as dubbed by Alan Shearer, has managed to take his game to the next level, nailing down his place as a regular starter.

He was also included in Tuchel’s first England squad for the current break, deservedly so given the fact he’s managed to outperform James in numerous key areas throughout 2024/25.

Livramento has managed to complete more progressive carries and achieve a higher take-on success rate, highlighting the threat he possesses with the ball at his feet.

He’s also managed to better James defensively, winning more of the tackles he’s entered, whilst making more clearances per 90, offering that added cover to Maresca’s side had they kept hold of the youngster.

However, after his departure nearly four years ago, he remains another player who’s slipped through the net, with their loss undoubtedly Newcastle’s gain given his recent success.

There’s no denying that James is a player who possesses a lot of quality, as seen by his display last night, but his injury issues will always remain a concern, with Livramento certainly a better option at present.

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