AFC Wimbledon are in advanced talks to sign Chelsea youngster Luke McCormick, report Football Insider.
The 22-year-old midfielder has one year remaining on his contract with the Blues and is set to leave on a free transfer.
Chelsea has reportedly given the green light to proceedings and are looking to include a sell-on clause in the deal.
The 2017 FA Youth Cup winner spent the 2020/21 season on loan at Bristol Rovers, featuring 43 times for the Pirates, scoring six and assisting two.
Despite Joey Barton’s best efforts, Bristol Rovers finished bottom of League One.
McCormick impressed and attracted the attention of local London side AFC Wimbledon who finished 19th.
The Chelsea Under-23s midfielder also won the League One January 2021 goal of the month award for a free-kick scored against Crewe Alexandra.
🏆🔵 Bristol Rovers midfielder Luke McCormick is the League One Goal of the Month Winner, for January, for his unstoppable free kick vs Crewe Alexandra. #BRFC #EFL_HUB pic.twitter.com/cWYapmixv6
— EFL HUB ⚜️ (@efl_hub) February 26, 2021
The hallowed year of 2022 for the Blues academy
In addition to McCormick’s contract expiring in 2022, several other big names from the Blues Under-23s are set to have contracts expire next summer.
Dujon Sterling, who was once destined to break into Antonio Conte’s Chelsea starting eleven, is set to be a free agent by summer 2022.
The 21-year-old right-back featured just 12 times for the Chelsea Development Squad this season in Premier League 2, having failed to secure a loan move for the 2020/21 season.
England Under-17s World Cup winner George McEachran, brother of former Chelsea prodigy Josh McEachran, is also set to be a free agent come the summer of 2022.
Race to renew contracts
Valentino Livramento and Lewis Bate top the list of Chelsea prodigies whose contracts expire by the end of next season.
The pair are widely regarded as two of the club’s most promising assets in the academy.
Chelsea has been heavily linked to former Blues Academy player, Declan Rice, over the last year.
Despite this, it has been reported that the board are reluctant to bring Rice back to Stamford Bridge to save face in addition to the large sum demanded by West Ham. However, it appears as if Rice remains a key target.
In light of this, the club will likely make a conscious effort to renew and retain the services of Livramento and Bate in a bid to not find themselves repeating history.