Banished Chelsea star Josh Acheampong transfer feelings already clear amid contract stand-off

Despite Chelsea barring young defender Josh Acheampong from playing for the club again until he signs a new contract, the player's goals for a future at Stamford Bridge have already been made clear. Aged 18, and having penned a youth deal earlier this year, Acheampong has been made unavailable for either the senior or Under-21 side.

In May, Chelsea were working without 14 first-team players that day and Mauricio Pochettino - who had turned to Acheampong in training throughout the season - offered him a brief chance to impress at Stamford Bridge.

The versatile defender is now not expected to play for Chelsea until contract issues are resolved. football.london understands that

At his age there is a limit to the contract length, but the deal signed was as long as it could be. However, with reports linking Real Madrid as well as other European powerhouses, Acheampong has now been sidelined with his future in doubt.

Enzo Maresca took the teenager to America in pre-season, where he played a small role, and gave him 30 minutes from the bench in the Carabao Cup third round tie against Barrow last month. He has only made it into a matchday squad on one other occasion under the Italian, though, and was left out entirely while nominal centre-backs Axel Disasi and Wesley Fofana deputised on the right last month.

In Reece James' absence earlier this season and Malo Gusto suffering an injury of his own, a spot for Acheampong appeared to open up. He was left out by Maresca instead

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beat Bournemouth 4-1 on Monday night in the Premier League International Cup but Acheampong was not selected. He did get the nod to go away with England's Under-20s during the recent international break though, and played twice for his country at junior level.

Speaking in an interview published just last week, Acheampong made his desire to play at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea perfectly clear, though. Asked if he had been pushed to strive for more appearances, he said: "Yes, definitely. Because I've felt the atmosphere and the experience once, I say I kind of wish I'd just played longer. That's the only thing, it was kind of all a blur and it went so quickly. I just wish it was longer.

"The experience, like, always be ready because you never know when your chance will come. I say just keep working hard because you don't want it to be a one time thing, like that was my moment and I'd rather there be many more."

Reflecting on his foray at SW6, Acheampong added: "It's an achievement which I didn't would happen so soon. I always hoped to make my debut but it came so quickly. Overall it was a really good experience.

"I was training with the first team quite a lot and then I'd been on the bench a few times, in the squad, but I never thought I'd actually come on. Then, when the squad came out there wasn't that many defenders and I thought, 'maybe this is my chance.'

"I remember calling my mum and I was like, 'I think this is the day, I might come on.' Then, I remember I got told to warm up and they [the coaches] called me over and I was on."

Acheampong didn't shrink in the moment. "To be fair, I thought before I'd be a bit more scared but I wasn't scared, I was just really excited," he explained. "I wasn't actually too nervous. I think when you're more excited you're kind of just more calm and it's just like another game really."

As for the Stamford Bridge factor? "It's really different to anything I've kind of experienced, because I'd say I've played in a fair few decent crowds but when everyone is supporting Chelsea, it's like you just feel the atmosphere is really good.

"If you're going to try and win a tackle or you do something good, it kind of just gives you confident when the home team is behind you." Chelsea now have work to do if they are to make Acheampong's dream a reality.