Chelsea on the verge of picking up second Brazilian wonderkid
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With seven Brazilians on the books already, including recent signing Nathan, it’s clear Premier League champions Chelsea have an affinity with the Canarinho clan, and an eighth looks set to be added soon in the form of Fluminense forward Kenedy.
According to various sources, the 19-year-old has undergone a medical and will sign a five-year-deal with the Blues, spurning interest in his signature from Manchester United, Juventus and Wolfsburg.
The Daily Express believes Fluminense sold Kenedy to an investment company a fortnight ago, knowing a deal was set to go through, with Chelsea thought to have then agreed a £6.3m fee for the player dubbed ‘the new Neymar’.
There aren’t a wealth of stats available on the Brazil Under-20 international, but from what’s around it seems Kenedy will need some sharpening up before he’s ready for Premier League primetime.
Five goals in 40 senior appearances since 2013, 26 of which were starts, is hardly striking form to set pulses racing, although three of those efforts came in eight starts last term, according to Soccerway.com.
It seems likely that both Kenedy and Nathan will take the well-worn route to Chelsea’s feeder club Vitesse once the deal is wrapped up, following countrymen Lucas Piazon and Wallace’s temporary Eredivisie switches over the past couple of campaigns.
In other Chelsea news, the 6/5 favourites to retain their top-flight crown have reportedly had a £20m bid for Real Madrid maestro Isco rejected, which can hardly have been a shock since he cost more than that two summers ago and has looked a serious player since.
The west Londoners will only go back in with a bigger offer if Brazilian number 10 Oscar makes a much-rumoured move to Juventus, according to reports.
However, with Arsenal also sniffing around the 23-year-old, and new Los Blancos boss Rafa Benitez thought to be keen on keeping Isco, they won’t get him cheap.
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