Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is implementing a US-style contract policy for the club’s under-25 players, locking them into deals for as long as seven years.
In a move that is common place in American sports, the new Blues regime want to ensure they tie in the club’s best young players so that they are contracted for their peak years.
Generally in English football, clubs look to secure young talent into contracts of up to five years.
But Sportsmail has learned the new Chelsea regime are exploring offering youngsters contracts of up to seven years – a scenario that is largely uncommon in English football.
There has already been evidence of the shift in policy this summer. Marc Cucurella, 24, signed a six year deal up joining from Brighton as did 18-year-old Carney Chukwuemeka when he arrived from Aston Villa.
Moving forward Boehly also wants to tie the club’s existing young players to longer contracts than usual.
Academy graduates Mason Mount, Reece James and Armando Broja are among the players Chelsea want to sign to extensions as soon as possible.
And the trio can expect to be offered improved deals of six years with an option of a further 12 years.
It remains to be seen whether the aforementioned threesome would consider committing to Chelsea for that period of time – particularly Mount and James who are widely viewed as two of the most complete young players in Europe and are attracting interest from across the continent.
Nevertheless, the move to cement Chelsea’s best players to unusually long deals is indicative of the new owners’ desire to secure the futures of core members of the squad, whilst also maintaining their future transfer values in the event of rival interest.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have seen a formal offer for Everton youngster Anthony Gordon rejected.
It now remains to be seen whether the London club return with an improved offer for the Toffees player, who would give serious consideration to a switch.
Chelsea made a bid of around £45million on Monday that was turned down by Everton.
The Merseyside club value Gordon at a minimum of £50million and will not consider offers below that mark.
The Stamford Bridge club first held talks over a move for Gordon over the weekend before tabling their bid at the start of this week.
Agreeing personal terms with Gordon would not be a problem for Chelsea.
Elsewhere, Chelsea are also hoping to tie goalkeeper Edouard Mendy down on a new contract with talks ongoing.
Sportsmail reported last week that there was significant distance between the two parties but negotiations over a deal that could run until at least 2027 have continued and are now progressing in the right direction.
Chelsea are also deliberating over the future of N’Golo Kante with the midfielder into the final year of his contract.
The Chelsea hierarchy are in no doubt about Kante’s ability and importance, which he provided another reminder of in Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham.
But they are also wary that Kante, currently on £290,000-per-week, has faced increasing difficulties with injuries in the last few seasons, leaving them with a dilemma and uncertain as they weigh up whether to extend his contract.
Kante’s 2021/22 season was disrupted by injury and illness and his strong start to the new campaign was halted by a hamstring injury against Spurs.