Chelsea are eyeing up one other of Ruben Amorim’s former Sporting Lisbon players after hijacking Manchester United’s move for Geovany Quenda.
The teenage winger had reportedly been high up on United’s summer wishlist, however the 17-year-old is now sure for Stamford Bridge as an alternative.
The Blues have agreed a £41 million transfer fee for Quenda who will remain on the Portuguese club next season before he eventually moves to the Premier League.
United did harbour real interest in Quenda and held talks along with his agent Jorge Mendes, however the January arrival of Patrick Dorgu is claimed to have played a job in a change of heart from the club’s transfer chiefs.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are continuing to construct their portfolio of oustanding young players with Quenda the most recent addition.
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The likes of Kendry Paez and Estevao Willian are already on their solution to complement the likes of Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto.
Chelsea ‘s spending won’t stop there, nevertheless, and based on Fabrizio Romano they’re already eyeing one other player who developed under Amorim at Sporting in the form of Dario Essugo.
The talented midfielder has been firmly on BlueCo ‘sradar since January and Chelsea will hope that their excellent relationship with Sporting, a consequence of the Quenda deal, will ensure Essugo’s move goes through easily in the summertime.
Essugo featured twice for Sporting at first of the present campaign, when Amorim was still in charge, before he was loaned out to Las Palmas for whom he has made 17 La Liga appearances.
Sporting Lisbon manager Rui Borges meanwhile believes Quenda shall be making a ‘natural’ next step when he joins Chelsea.
His growth has been rapid at Sporting, it’s natural that folks speak about him to big clubs,’ Borges said.
‘He’s a child who may have to learn to live with that. The deal that’s being talked about today, I can’t go into that until the club talks about it, because I don’t know.’
Asked about Quenda’s mind-set since being approached by Chelsea, he added: “I didn’t mention it specifically.
‘It’s something he has to learn to live with, he’s been growing quickly, sometimes we forget that he’s only 17.
‘It’s natural that they’ll speak about him, they’ll link him to many clubs, that shall be a part of his growth. It’ll affect him mentally, but he has to learn to live with it.’
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