Reports from Portuguese newspaper outlet A Bola via Sport Witness claim that Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City have been in contact with Joelson Fernandes’s agent to scope out the economics to secure his services.
European clubs like Barcelona and Juventus have also shown interest in the player, but their interest ‘has been losing strength lately’.
The 17-year-old winger who has already made four first-team appearances for Sporting CP this season is being dubbed as the next Cristiano Ronaldo by spectators and pundits in his country.
Further meetings are expected to be held later this week, with Chelsea expected to show interest in meeting the £41m release clause.
Chelsea have already lost two wingers this season- Pedro and Willian. Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic are remaining options for Frank Lampard. New signing Hakim Ziyech could play on the wings but isn’t a traditional winger. The former Ajax forward likes to cut inside and create from the central space.
Skillful, unpredictable, and possessing a burst of pace, Joelson Fernandes could be utilized by Lampard as an alternate option on both the flanks.
Hudson-Odoi is not fully committed to the club despite signing a fresh five-year deal last summer. It would be wise to invest in a young talent that might pay dividends in the future.
It is understood that Chelsea’s across the town rivals Arsenal have had two bids for the Portuguese winger rejected by Sporting, Sporting wants the suitors to trigger the £41m release clause and are not entertaining cheap bids. His agent, Kia Joorabchian has denied any Arsenal talks.
Chelsea’s board have an opportunity in the coming weeks
to flex its financial muscle and complete the transfer of this Portuguese
sensation, who if nurtured properly can scale the heights set by a very similar
young player from his own country.
