Chelsea: Aaron Anselmino tipped to become ‘great’ as Tottenham and Manchester United stars put on alert | OneFootball

Centre-back has been recalled by Chelsea from loan spell at Boca Juniors

Boca Juniors president Juan Roman Riquelme says Chelsea defender Aaron Anselmino is on course to become a “great footballer”.

The 19-year-old joined the Blues last summer, with the club believed to have paid around £17m for his services, though he returned to the Argentine outfit on loan to continue his development.

Amid a recall now that the January transfer window is open, it remains to be seen if Anselmino is sent back out on loan for the second half of the season or is kept around the Chelsea first-team squad.

Enzo Maresca does have a shortage of centre-backs with Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile sidelined through injury, leaving Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill as his only senior options.

With that said, Anselminoa did miss the last five league games of Boca's season with a hamstring problem, so he's also a fitness concern.

Whether the youngster gets his chance this season or not, he is viewed by Chelsea chiefs as having the potential to become a first-team regular over the coming years.

Aaron Anselmino arrived at Chelsea last summer.

Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Not only has Riquelme tipped Anselmino for great things, he's also talked up the teenager's chances of breaking into the Argentina national team set up.

“He is going to be a player for the national team,” the Boca Juniors’ president added. “He is going to compete with the centre-backs.”

This could be a warning to Tottenham and Manchester United defenders Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez as they were Argentina’s centre-back pairing for the Copa America final win over Colombia last summer as their places could soon be under threat from the Chelsea wonderkid.