Juan Cuadrado Transfer Link Is Worrying Sign for Chelsea Youth Development

It's a statement that may well come back to haunt Jose Mourinho.

"My conscience tells me that if, for example, [Lewis] Baker, [Izzy] Brown, and [Dominic] Solanke are not national team players in a few years, I should blame myself," he said of Chelsea's talented youngsters in the summer, per Daily Mail.

"[...] when they become Chelsea players, they will become England players, almost for sure."

Mourinho's famous "Special One" quote came to define his first spell in charge of Chelsea. It was rolled out often to support the manager's undoubted brilliance as a coach.

Now offering up ways he can be blamed for the failure of young English talent, he runs the risk of providing the media with a considerable stick with which to beat him.

Sign Juan Cuadrado and the route to Chelsea's first team for many of their youngsters—not just those aforementioned—becomes that bit harder.

Given the struggles of Mohamed Salah in the 12 months he has been a Chelsea player, those youngsters looking up at the first team must surely feel a hint of disappointment.

They play in different positions, but Lewis Baker has been itching for a chance to make an appearance. He's made the bench on a few occasions—notably against Manchester Untied at Old Trafford—but for one reason or another, Mourinho has not backed up his words by giving Baker game time.

Even in Capital One Cup matches against Bolton Wanderers and Shrewsbury Town, it's been the more established stars who have featured over their youthful teammates.

Ben Hoskins/Getty Images

Salah has been an obstacle in their way and it seems Mourinho is going to be putting yet even more before those academy players he speaks so fondly of.

Across the media, reports linking Cuadrado with a move to Stamford Bridge grow stronger by the day. As time runs out in January, maybe it's a move that will not make it over the line.

In the summer, with more time at the negotiating table, Cuadrado will more than likely get his pay day, if not now.

Metro reports the fee Chelsea will pay Fiorentina will be around £23 million. If so, how can youth compete with that level of investment?

It can't. But it shouldn't have to.

Chelsea are already well stocked in attacking midfield. With Eden Hazard, Oscar, Willian, Andre Schurrle and Cesc Fabregas' versatility, they have enough depth to see them through between now and May, pursuing a potential quadruple or not.

Adding another multi-million pound asset just adds more problems for Chelsea's younger players.

When squads are rotated and players given a break, that's where youth is meant to prosper. The opportunity of game time to slowly introduce them to first-team action is a valuable commodity, not to mention a proven method.

Solanke made his club debut against Maribor in the Champions League this season; Ruben Loftus-Cheek doing the same against Sporting.

When big names arrive for even bigger money, it makes it harder for the manager to give players those opportunities.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

The policy of rotation remains, but it's focused on those who hold a financial value. In Cuadrado's case, that is going to be anything north of £20 million.

For Chelsea's youngsters, we're talking the hundreds of thousands at most.

It's incomparable. It's also a reality of life at Europe's biggest clubs.

With a bit more faith, Chelsea could be on the brink of creating something special with their academy, that's where the tragedy is in the current scenario.

Three FA Youth Cups in five years, victory in the Under-21s Premier League last season all suggest they have players capable of going on to emulate the stars of the first team.

Instead, the club appears to continue playing the short game in the transfer market, however.

If Salah departs for Roma, or Schurrle moves back to the Bundesliga for instance, shouldn't the natural step be to promote from within?

Apparently not if the ongoing Cuadrado rumours have any depth. And for that reason Chelsea's youngsters should be concerned for what the future holds.

Let's hope that's not the case.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes