Why Chelsea should eye Raul Moro as one for the future
According to claims from Italian outlet La Lazio Siamo Noi (h/t Daily Express), Chelsea are among a host of top European clubs vying for the signature of highly-rated Lazio winger Raul Moro.
The 18-year-old rose through the youth ranks of Espanyol and Barcelona before moving to the Italian capital in 2019. He made his Serie A debut for Lazio as a late substitute against Juventus towards the end of last season but is yet to feature for Simeone Inzaghi’s side this term.
Despite his lack of game time at the senior level, however, Moro has continued to impress for Lazio’s Primavera side, scoring 8 goals in 8 games so far this season. As per the report, the starlet is frustrated with his lack of first-team minutes and is keen to push for a move away to fast-track his development.
Chelsea are believed to be leading the race to sign the former La Masia youth prospect but face competition from other clubs in the Premier League. An unnamed top club in Italy are also chasing the Spaniard but it is understood that Lazio would prefer to make a decision on his future at the end of the season.
Chelsea have invested heavily in youth
Chelsea have continued to scour the continent for hidden gems, with Jimi Tauriainen, Edwin Andersson, Bryan Fiabema and Lucas Bergstrom all joining the ranks.
Chelsea winning the race to sign Raul Moro would represent yet another exciting addition to the pool of burgeoning young talents at Stamford Bridge. The Spaniard is hardly the finished article just yet, but the fact that he is already competing for a first-team place at Lazio despite being just 18 speaks volumes of his talent and potential.
Lampard’s reign at Stamford Bridge has opened a clear pathway from the academy to the first-team ranks. The likes of Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori, Reece James, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Tammy Abraham have all enjoyed considerable involvement in the Premier League over the past 12 months.
With other top homegrown prospects like Conor Gallagher also knocking on the door, the future certainly looks bright for the Blues.
In truth, Chelsea should fancy their chances of grooming a talented youngster like Moro into a first-team player. The Blues can do with more cover and competition for places on the flanks, with Christian Pulisic often struggling with injuries.
With Timo Werner failing to impress in a wide attacking role, the door certainly remains open for fresh additions in that department.
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Verdict
Chelsea should take a page out of Wolves’ books in their pursuit of Raul Moro. The Midlands outfit snapped up Pedro Neto from Lazio as a top young player back in 2019, despite his lack of professional experience. He has since gone on to establish himself in the Premier League whilst also earning caps for Portugal at the senior international level.
Moro looks like a player in a similar mould who would flourish at the highest level with regular game time. He is unlikely to go straight into Chelsea’s first-team if a move does materialise but would tick several boxes as an excellent long-term investment, nevertheless.
