London: Chelsea are hopeful of winning the race to sign Brazil’s latest wonderkid Robert Kenedy this summer as part of a new youth recruitment drive.
Kenedy, 19, has attracted the interest of Manchester United and Inter Milan over the past 12 months but Chelsea are confident that they are in the driving seat to land him. He has made more than 20 appearances for Fluminense and has played for Brazil at under-17 and under-20 level.
He first caught the eye of European scouts at the 2013 Under-17 South America Championship, where he finished as Brazil’s top scorer with six goals.
Blessed with remarkable physical strength for a teenager and most comfortable cutting in from the right flank on to his favoured left foot, he has earned comparisons in his homeland with Hulk.
Despite the fact that he has only broken into the club’s first team this season, Fluminense are likely to accept a bid of around £5 million (Dh28.7 million) for the player.
Chelsea are also expected to sign Kenedy’s Brazil Under-20 teammate Nathan de Souza for £4.5 million from Atletico Paranaense. Neither Kenedy nor Nathan would be likely to be granted a work permit to play in the Premier League next season, so Chelsea would most likely send the pair out on loan together.
Chelsea are in discussion about striking a new partnership agreement with Belgian club Royal Mouscron-Peruwelz, where non-EU youngsters could gain experience of European football.
Following Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s first Premier League start in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool, Branislav Ivanovic believes Chelsea’s young guns can make the club even stronger next season. “In my opinion we have a great generation of young players. In the next couple of games they will get a chance,” Ivanovic said.
