Chelsea beat Man City & AC Milan to Wigan Athletic ace | OneFootball

Chelsea have beaten AC Milan and Manchester City to the signing of a young Wigan Athletic forward

Chelsea have beaten Premier League rivals Manchester City and Serie A giants AC Milan in the surprise transfer race for a young Wigan Athletic talent.

The Latics have been busy in the transfer market already, signing midfielder Max Power and wing-back Connor Barrett from Bradford City and Walsall, respectively.

However, the Greater Manchester outfit are now set to lose one of their academy graduates, whose League One performances caught the eye of clubs with significantly loftier ambitions.

Wigan successfully avoided the drop to League Two last term, thanks to Gary Caldwell's stewardship following his return to the Brick Community Stadium, but they will hope to finish higher in the third tier next season.

Chelsea win race for Wigan Athletic youngster amid rival interest from Man City & AC Milan

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The Latics announced that they had released eight players following the conclusion of the League One season, including regular centre-backs Will Aimson and Jason Kerr.

Wigan's retained list also revealed that nine players, including Matt Smith, Harrison Bettoni, and club legend Callum McManaman, had been offered new contracts, with their current deals expiring this summer.

According to Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke via X, Chelsea, Man City, and AC Milan had all eyed Bettoni, who scored three goals in 21 League One appearances last term.

The 18-year-old made a big impression on his third-tier debut as a substitute for the Latics back in November, scoring a free kick with his first touch, before notching a late winner in a 2-1 triumph at Wimbledon.

Bettoni went on to score in a vital win over Burton Albion in December before finding himself on the scoresheet once again in January, when his side beat North West rivals Preston North End in the FA Cup.

O'Rourke has now reported on X that Chelsea have won the race for the teenager, and Wigan are due training compensation from the Stamford Bridge outfit.

Chelsea move could harm Harrison Bettoni's development

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Bettoni's Wigan exploits prove that he could have a promising future ahead, and he has done incredibly well for himself if he finalises his move to Chelsea.

However, the 18-year-old wasn't exactly ripping his League One opponents to shreds regularly in Latics colours, and just nine of his 21 third-tier appearances came from the starting lineup.

Furthermore, Bettoni largely featured less often under Caldwell than he had under previous head coach Ryan Lowe, and the Scot proved himself as a better manager, dragging his side out of the relegation battle the former Preston boss had plunged them into.

Meanwhile, Chelsea endured a turbulent and challenging campaign last term, but could be on the right track once again next season under Xabi Alonso, whose Bayer Leverkusen days painted him as one of the best managers in Europe.

However, Bettoni, who can operate as a forward and an attacking midfielder, is highly unlikely to feature regularly at Stamford Bridge, amid the presence of talents like Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer.