The sight of Harvey Vale coming on in Chelsea’s win over Astana yesterday afternoon brought mixed feelings for many Blues.
We love academy kids getting a go – but Vale is 21, and there’s no way he should be kicking around in PL2 football almost 3 years after making his first appearances for the first team.
He’s a perfect illustration of a player who has fallen between the academy cracks. Too good to let go on a free, not good enough (according to those in charge) to be a member of the first team squad. A bad loan was followed by a good loan, but clearly Chelsea weren’t getting offered what they wanted to sell him in the summer, hence the poor kid still being stuck playing with youngsters even after proving himself in senior football.
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Frank Lampard applauds Chelsea supporters.(Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Enzo Maresca on the touchline against Wolves.
Deivid Washington volleys in against Brentford U21.
Harvey Vale plays against Astana. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
Harvey Vale plays against Astana. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
Vale has long been ready for next step
The good news is that his purgatory is almost at and end. Kieran Gill of the Daily Mail today reports that a permanent January move is very likely. Vale’s contract is up at the end of the season, but Chelsea have the option to extend it for an extra year.
It’s not expected that the club will trigger that option – but any club negotiating for Vale will have to take it into account when agreeing a fee.
Another interesting twist mentioned in the piece is Vale’s potential Irish passport. That would make him an EU player, meaning he wouldn’t count against the non-EU player limits in some leagues. We’d love to see him give it a go in La Liga or Serie A.
Vale has “looked a level above” in PL2, and has now made his European debut. Surely at the very least a good Championship move is finally coming his way next month?