A quick phone call from Chris Coleman was all Jake Clarke-Salter needed to persuade him to move to Sunderland.
The Black Cats’ new signing has already spoken to his new manager at length and he can’t wait to get started after signing on loan until the end of the season.
Clarke-Salter arrives on Wearside with a hunger to impress after featuring for Bristol Rovers in League One last season, while also helping Chelsea to three consecutive FA Youth Cup triumphs and back-to-back UEFA Youth League titles.
Last summer, the 20-year-old enjoyed further success by helping England under-20s become the nation’s first world champions since 1966, and he believes working under Coleman is the perfect next step in his career.
“As soon as he called me I couldn’t wait to come and my mind was pretty much made up,” said Clarke-Salter.
“One of the reasons I’ve come to the club is because the manager is great with young players, so I can’t wait to learn from him.”
He continued: “I feel like I’m now ready for the next step up in my career.
“I had a little bit of a taster [at Bristol Rovers last season] and it was cut short through injury, so hopefully I can play a lot of games until the end of the season and we can do well.
“The fan base is massive here and there’s also the stature of the manager and the assistant manager, who were both centre backs, so I feel like I can learn a lot from them.
“I can’t wait to get started.”