Chelsea make decision on the future of nephew of former Super Eagles defender

English Premier League giants Chelsea have reportedly made a decision on the future of Lesley Ugochukwu, who is the nephew of retired Nigeria international central defender Onyekachi Apam.

The France underage international joined Chelsea on a seven-year deal on August 1, which ended his association with boyhood club Rennes. 

It was heavily speculated that Ugochukwu would be joining Chelsea-owned Strasbourg on loan for the entirety of the season but there is a new development, which, in truth, has not come as a surprise. 

According to Sky Sports UK, Lesley Ugochukwu is expected to stay part of the first team squad, at least for the first half of the season. 

Manager Mauricio Pochettino has decided to keep the talented midfielder in the first team after monitoring him at close quarters this month - and was impressed with what he saw. 

There was every indication that the 2023 Golden Boy nominee was in the plans of the Argentine football tactician with the loan departure of Brazilian wonderkid Andrey Santos to Nottingham Forest. 

Ugochukwu has been given minutes off the bench in two of the first three games played by Chelsea in the new season and he's seriously in contention to make his starting debut in tomorrow's Carabao Cup second round tie against AFC Wimbledon.

Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo and Conor Gallagher are believed to be ahead of Ugochukwu in Pochettino's pecking order of central midfielders.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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