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Joelson Fernandes is one of the most exciting youngsters to come out of Sporting CP’s academy, perhaps the most exciting since Cristiano Ronaldo, with the obvious comparison being made already.
© Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images
Arsenal have been pursuing the 17-year-old for the past few weeks, but according to A Bola, Chelsea and Manchester City have entered the race as well. According to the report, Sporting have rejected Arsenal’s second bid of €32m — their first bid was worth €20m — and are demanding the full €45m release clause. They have also been trying to extend the youngster’s contract, which expires in 2022.
Joelson, usually a left winger, made his top flight debut last month, and featured in 4 of Sporting’s last 6 matches (all from the bench) in the Primeira Liga’s version of Project Restart. His creativity, technique, and dribbling skills have earned him huge plaudits and made a host of big clubs take notice, a list which also includes the likes of Barcelona and Juventus.
The best academy players in World’s biggest clubs series!
Sporting CP – Joelson Fernandes (17)
Another superb winger produced in Alcochete which raised such great footballers like Figo, Simāo, Quaresma, Ronaldo & Nani. At the age of 17, he is already a star of Sporting U-23. pic.twitter.com/Fv5AMffzrY
— Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig (@FTalentScout) April 24, 2020
While Arsenal are said to be in the driver’s seat, Chelsea and City have made inquiries and are expected to hold further talks with a view towards a possible deal.
That said, it does seem quite unlikely that Chelsea would spend an exorbitant amount on a youth prospect, however promising he might be. We have a plethora of young attacking options in the team already, with plenty more coming up in our own Academy.
On a possibly related note, the Chelsea links to Joelson may or may not have something to do with Blues youngster Juan Familia-Castillo, 20, recently being offered to Sporting CP. After getting heavily linked with Juventus, Castillo up spending last season back at Ajax, who were expected to make that temporary move a a permanent one at some point. But they did not, despite a starring role for their U21 team at left back, so Castillo’s back on the market once again.
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