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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. "It's a very high standard at Chelsea, the club has an amazing academy and produces really top players," Chalobah, speaking ahead of England under-21s' win over Poland in the European Under-21 Championship, told reporters. "It's just there's that barrier of getting in there [to the first team] and then staying in there. "You're playing for one of the best teams in Europe -- they're now back in the Champions League -- and the demand is high on winning. "We won the league and I have competition from European Cup winners, World Cup winners and full internationals." He said he had "learned every day" from players such N'Golo Kante, Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas and added: "The manager Antonio Conte's tactical awareness, his passion and desire to win, all rub off on everyone." Chalobah has impressed in a defensive midfield role for the England U21s, and former Chelsea assistant Ray Wilkins does not believe Bakayoko would be a significant upgrade on an academy graduate who is only four months younger. "I was really disappointed to read they are looking at Bakayoko from Monaco," Wilkins told talkSPORT. "He is 22 years of age, French and doesn't get near the national side, but it was quoted Chelsea might be paying £32m. "Well, in Nathaniel they have got a footballer that can play exactly the same but just needs an opportunity to get in there and play. "You have seen already in the two games he has played up to now [at the European Championship] he looks a class act in and amongst people of his own age. "Playing with the top quality players that they have at Chelsea, he can only improve week to week."
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