Chelsea will face Portuguese side Benfica in the last 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup in North Carolina on Saturday night.
Enzo Maresca’s side beat ES Tunis 3-0 in their final group stage match on Wednesday morning, with new striker Liam Delap netting his first goal for the club.
The Blues had been expected to top Group D, but defeat against Flamengo in their second group game meant the Brazilian side finished in top spot.
The West London side have been busy so far this summer, signing Delap, Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr.
Several players are expected to depart Stamford Bridge prior to the start of next season, as those in charge of the club look to trim Maresca’s inflated squad.
It appears one player that won’t be leaving, though, is defender Josh Acheampong.
Acheampong is set to satay put at Chelsea beyond this summer (Photo: Associated Press/Alamy)
Fabrizio Romano claims that the Blues have no intention of allowing the young defender to leave the club, as he is set to be part of Maresca’s squad next season.
Acheampong is one of a number of players to have graduated from Chelsea’s fruitful Cobham academy into the first team at Stamford Bridge in recent seasons.
The right-back – who can also play as a central defender or even on the left – has now played 14 times for the Blues at senior level.
Romano claims that the 19-year-old has attracted interest from elsewhere after impressing for Chelsea, however the London side are not intending on allowing him to leave this summer.
Late last year the teenager signed a new long-term contract that is set to keep him at the club until the end of the 2028/29 campaign.
Having been an unused substitute for Chelsea’s first two matches at the Club World Cup, Acheampong played the entirety of their win over ES Tunis as Maresca’s side secured progression to the knockout phase.