Chelsea are set to continue their youth-driven transfer spree, with three prospects reportedly in the crosshairs of Todd Boehly and his recruitment team. Co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart have already snapped up a trio of teenagers this summer.
Omari Kellyman (£19million from Aston Villa), Caleb Wiley (£8.5m from Atlanta United) and Marc Guiu (£5m from Barcelona) are bedding in at Stamford Bridge after opting to take the next step of their fledgling careers under manager Enzo Maresca.
Top prospects Carney Chukwuemeka, Romeo Lavia and Andrey Santos have also been signed in recent years, with Chelsea pouring a large portion of their extortionate transfer spending into signing players they hope will be future stars.
According to The Athletic, three other youngsters are being tracked by senior Blues figures. Lecce left-back Patrick Dorgu is reportedly considered an ‘outstanding talent’ by those in charge of Chelsea’s transfer activity.
The 19-year-old Danish youth international made 32 Serie A appearances for Lecce last season and has a Transfermarkt value of £10m. Chelsea are also believed to have made Brazilian wonderkid Gabriel Mec a ‘serious target’.
The Gremio winger only turned 16 in April but he is already attracting widespread interest. And though Chelsea reportedly failed with a bid just shy of £13m, they are now plotting their next move.
Genk goalkeeper Mike Penders is also said to be on Chelsea’s radar. The 6ft 7in Belgian recently broke into Genk’s first team at the age of 18 and he would reportedly cost in the region of £1m.
The Blues’ first-team squad is already brimming with stoppers as new signing Filip Jorgensen joins up with Robert Sanchez, Djordje Petrovic, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Marcus Bettinelli and Lucas Bergstrom – although at least one of those players is expected to leave this summer.
Bringing in Dorgu, Mec and Penders at a combined cost of approximately £24m would be another statement of intent in what has already been a free-spending summer for the Londoners. And their biggest announcement could be yet to come.
Reports indicate that Chelsea are in talks with Napoli over a loan deal for megastar striker Victor Osimhen which could later be made permanent, and which would also pave the way for Romelu Lukaku to head in the opposite direction.
