Bukayo Saka cited as ex-Arsenal coach shares intriguing transfer claim
Academy players could find it “tricky” to break out of the youth ranks like Arsenal star Bukayo Saka.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Saul Isaksson-Hurst, a long-standing former Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal coach of 18 years and who now runs his own business coaching Premier League stars, claimed budding stars can thrive by moving abroad.
The likes of Folarin Balogun, Samuel Iling-Junior and Noni Madueke, all stars that Isaksson-Hurst personally coaches, have had great success with loan and permanent moves away from Premier League sides.
There has been a recent trend of English talent moving to the mainland, with Jude Bellingham, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tammy Abraham among stars continuing their development after moves from England.
Overseas moves “definitely help” academy stars – ex-Arsenal coach
Isaksson-Hurst admitted that all academy players have a “different journey”, but was adamant that moving overseas can advance their careers if they don’t have a Saka-like breakout.
“It’s tricky,” he told the Inside Track podcast.
“You look at someone like Saka at Arsenal who’s had the opportunity [to break out of their academy].
“It can be one or the other.
“It’s difficult to say for certain as everyone has a different journey.
“But with Samuel Iling-Junior, Noni Madueke and Folarin Balogun, it’s definitely helped them to go abroad to get a lot of game time.
“They can develop and then potentially come back.
“It’s a bit trickier now with Brexit as you have to be 18 before you can go abroad, but it’s definitely one of the pathways.
“Players need to weigh up all the options.”
In other news, Arsenal news: Folarin Balogun can ‘go all the way’ and be world-class – ex-coach.
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