A native of Cambridge, Darling joined MK Dons at the start of last year. The jump from League Two to League One was not as difficult for the defender, who instantly became the lynchpin of the MK backline, racking up over 2,000 minutes of league action during the second half of the 2020/21 campaign.
During his 18-month spell at the club so far, Darling has made 71 competitive appearances. A centre-back by trade, he is regarded as a modern-day defender, who is adept at passing the ball out from the back and breaking the lines with his excellent range of passing.
Darling's talent has been noted, with Chelsea showing an interest in signing the 22-year-old ahead of the new season. The team is in severe need of defensive reinforcements, with Antonio Rudiger joining Real Madrid and Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen linked with a move to Barcelona.
The Blues are primarily targeting big-name players who can offer instant quality and stability in the backline. But the club are also keeping tabs on homegrown talents across the country, especially given how much their youth program has been successful in recent years.
Harry Darling could be one such player, brimming with talent and capable of plying his trade at the highest level. Given Thomas Tuchel’s ability to nurture young talents, the MK Dons starlet could be an interesting bet, as far as Chelsea are concerned.
However, Chelsea are facing stiff competition from both Brighton and Norwich City. Both the teams are quite capable of nurturing young players and are in a position to offer regular game-time to the 22-year-old, as he looks to take the next step in his career.
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