Chelsea's new signing Dastan Satpayev is being tipped by his former manager as the favorite to succeed in the Premier League.
Satpayev, a 17-year-old forward from Kazakhstan, made an impressive debut for Chelsea in a friendly match against Sydney Wanderers last week. His performance caught the eye of his new manager, Xabi Alonso, who has praised the youngster's skills and potential.
Satpayev's former manager, Rafael Urazbakhtin, who is now in charge of Kairat, believes the teenager has a "good chance" of establishing himself in the Chelsea team. He also thinks Satpayev is a better option than Liam Delap, who has struggled to make an impact at the club last season.
Urazbakhtin has stated that Satpayev is "stronger," "faster," and "more resilient" than Delap, and that he has the potential to become a genuine star for Chelsea. He also believes that Satpayev's versatility and ability to play in different positions will make him a valuable asset to the team.
The comments from Urazbakhtin have added to the pressure on Delap, who is reportedly in danger of losing his place in the Chelsea starting XI. Alonso has already shown faith in Satpayev by giving him a starting spot in the friendly match against Sydney Wanderers, and it remains to be seen whether the youngster will get more opportunities to impress in the coming weeks.
Satpayev's signing was confirmed by Chelsea last year, with the club reportedly paying around €4million for the teenager's services. However, due to international transfer regulations, Satpayev was unable to join up with his new teammates until this summer.
As Chelsea prepare for the new season, it will be interesting to see how Satpayev develops and whether he can live up to the expectations of his former manager and the Chelsea coaching staff.
