VALENTINO LIVRAMENTO

AGE: 18 CLUB: CHELSEA POSITION: DEFENDER VALUE: £700,000

WHAT HAS HE GOT?

REECE JAMES cemented his place in the Chelsea team after a good loan spell, and I wonder if this teenager from Croydon can emulate his colleague. A loan would be an advantage now. Although he has only just turned 18, Livramento has the power and pace to play as a forceful right full back in men’s football. I like the way he maintains his speed over long distances. Once he gets into his stride, he is difficult to contain. In the game I watched, with the opposition playing narrow, he was often able to find space on his flank to receive the ball and advance. Timing his runs, he surged forwards. The opposition left back was shrewd, forcing Livramento inside. But this did not deter him and he kept control of the ball. He showed confidence and was a regular release-ball. His defending was adequate and he did not lose composure. He also showed awareness to cover his centre back when play was developing on the opposite side.

WHAT DOES HE NEED?

A COUPLE of times he did run into traffic and may have used his speed to play a simple one-two when trapped and forced inside. Once, when the opposition winger side-stepped him on his left, he stopped his opponent in his tracks with a mistimed tackle, but this was not the norm. One of the younger players in the Chelsea academy side, he is a homegrown asset who could well move through the ranks within three seasons. A loan spell in the lower-league hurly-burly would help Chelsea assess his future. He is certainly strong enough.