Chelsea have reportedly joined Premier League rivals Manchester City in the race to sign 17-year-old winger Joelson Fernandes from Sporting.
Joelson Fernandes has come up through the ranks at Sporting CP and as per various rumours, the Blues have made contact with his agent Kia Joorabchian in a bid to sign him during the ongoing transfer window.
The Mirror had cited A Bola claiming: “According to A Bola (via Sport Witness), the Blues have been in touch with the teenager’s agent Kia Joorabchian, with Arsenal having already had a bid for the Sporting Lisbon talent knocked back.
“Reports in Portugal suggest there are “serious possibilities” either Chelsea or City meet the player’s €45m (£41m) release clause, thought to be at least £10m more than Arsenal’s bid.”
Will Chelsea be able to sign Joelson Fernandes?
The teenager is one of the most talked-about youngsters in European football right now and apart from Chelsea and Manchester City a number of other big clubs are also keeping tabs on his development.
But if his agent’s words are anything to go by then, Joelson Fernandes will not be venturing out of Sporting during the current transfer window.
“He’s a young phenomenal talent and I have never spoken about him to Arsenal. We have never mentioned him,” the agent said, as reported.
“He’s at Sporting, just broken into the first team and he will take time to get there.”
This will surely be a big setback for Frank Lampard since the left-winger has all the attributes of becoming a world-class player in the coming few seasons.
Yes, Chelsea will be missing out on a prodigy this time around but if Joorabchian’s statement is true then no other club will be able to sign him either meaning he will undoubtedly go up for sale next season.
