Chelsea are keen on Benfica’s teenage starlet Diego Moreira.
Blues co-owner Todd Boehly is continuing to try to harvest some of Europe’s best youngsters to build for the future. The Stamford Bridge club splashed out this summer to secure teenagers Carney Chukwuemeka, Cesare Casadei and Omari Hutchinson.
Chelsea were also recently chasing Brazilian starlet Endrick, from Palmeiras, but he is due to go to Real Madrid now. Blues, coached by Graham Potter, have now re-adjusted their sights to Moreira who is a left-footed winger who has been compared to Nani and Leroy Sane.
The Benfica ace and Portugal U19 international has already made a substitute appearance this term in the Champions League after making his debut last season. Moreira is under contract at Benfica until 2024 and the Portuguese league leaders are trying to extend his contract.
But Benfica are struggling to tie down the youngster, who is represented by Jorge Mendes’ agency, and may be forced to cash in on him in 2023.
Teenager Hutchinson joined from Arsenal in the summer and has already scored five goals for Chelsea's under-21 side in Premier League 2 before the World Cup break and made the bench for three first-team games without making it onto the pitch.
After travelling with the senior side for their midseason camp in Abu Dhabi, though, the youngster once compared to Eden Hazard has had a chance to impress the boss in a 1-0 friendly defeat to Aston Villa.
Potter said: "He was really good, dangerous and asked a question all the time. Throughout the game, he showed his quality but he wasn’t the only one. It was a spirited performance with a lot of young players so it was good."
Before adding: "It was a good game, [a] good performance from a young team playing against a really experienced Premier League side, so we've had a fantastic week, actually.
"[It is] Good to work with the boys that are here. Lads that have been injured have had a bit more time training and they've stepped their rehab on, so that's good. They're getting closer and it's been really, really positive to work in these conditions and we're happy with the week."
