Although they have received a lot of criticism for this, Chelsea have signed some extraordinary young talents in recent seasons.
For example, Estevao has been a revelation for Enzo Maresca’s side this season, despite only being 18 years old.
The young Brazilian already has five goals and one assist in just 843 minutes and looks like he could be something really special.
Fans should therefore be overjoyed that Chelsea have signed another highly rated wonderkid, who has been compared not only to Estevao but also to Moises Caicedo.
How Chelsea are replicating Estevao’s success
As if what Estevao has been doing this season wasn’t enough already, Chelsea fans can expect to see a few more wonderkids arrive at the club in the summer.
Perhaps the most selected of them, and the one who feels most ready to make an impact like the Brazilian, is Giovani Quenda.
The Blues paid a whopping £44m for the Portuguese treasure in March, a hefty sum for a player who is still only 18 years old, but he already looks like he’s worth the money.
For example, this season, the dynamic winger has played 22 games for the first team and played a total of 1,273 minutes, scoring five goals and providing eight assists.
In other words, the “relentless” teenage sensation, as Mattinson dubbed him, is involved in a goal on average every 1.69 games, or every 97.92 minutes.
Quenda 25/26 | |
|---|---|
Appearance | twenty two |
begins | 12 |
minutes | 1273′ |
the goal | 5 |
assist | 8 |
Number of goals involved per match | 0.59 |
Hours per goal involvement | 97.92 feet |
Points per game | 2.32 |
All stats via Transfermarkt | |
Another wonderkid who will return to Stamford Bridge in the summer alongside Quenda is Kendry Paes.
The Ecuadorian midfielder is currently on loan at Ligue 1 side RC Strasbourg and has made quite an impression despite being only 18 years old.
He made a total of 17 first-team appearances for France and was named Young Player of the Month for September.
Perhaps even more impressive than his club record, the teenage star has already won 23 caps for Ecuador and will no doubt play a role for Ecuador at the next World Cup.
However, the conveyor belt of young talent will stop next year, as Bruco has acquired another great prospect who is being compared to Estebao and Caicedo.
Chelsea’s next wonderkid
On Wednesday, it was announced that Bruco, the consortium that owns Chelsea and Strasbourg, has agreed to sign young Burkina Faso player Mohamed Zongo.
The 16-year-old is set to join the French club when he turns 18, and reports suggest he is likely to join the Blues at a later date if he performs well.
It’s not a story that will get fans too excited, but it’s another example of the West London owners being proactive and looking for the best young talent in the world, and Zongo definitely falls into that category.
Respected scout Jacek Kulig, for example, calls him “one of Africa’s most exciting U17 talents.”
Under-23 scout Antonio Mango described him as a “magical” talent with “incredible vision” and “the ability to open up the game from all angles and areas”.
Another thing that will excite Stamford Bridge fans is that he appears to be quite versatile, playing as both an attacking midfielder and a right-winger.
Interestingly, journalist and Chelsea writer Lloyd Canfield made the bold statement that the youngster “plays in a unique way, like a mix between Estevao and Moises Caicedo”.
Considering the 16-year-old’s position and skill set, comparisons to the Brazilian feel pretty straightforward.
But Canfield insists the Ecuadorian’s ability to shoot from long range and control possession in the middle of the park is what warrants the comparison.
After all, it will be a while before fans can see him properly, but if what those in the know are saying is true, Bruko, and potentially Chelsea, have a genuine star on their hands.
Toshin’s demise: Chelsea open £52m bid to sign ‘outstanding’ giant
This hugely exciting star could be the upgrade to Tosin that Chelsea and Enzo Maresca have been crying out for.
