Nathaniel Chalobah has said Chelsea youngsters have to contend with a "barrier" between the academy and the first team amid reports that the club are closing in on a £35 million move for Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko.
Reports in France on Thursday said Chelsea and Monaco have agreed a fee to make Bakayoko, 22, Chelsea's first signing of the summer.
His arrival would intensify speculation surrounding the future of Nemanja Matic as well as making it harder for Chalobah -- who established himself in Chelsea's first-team squad and made 10 Premier League appearances last season -- to break into the starting XI.