Former Sporting academy coach Fabio Roque claims that Chelsea have just bought a player who is “similar to Bukayo Saka.”

The Blues have agreed to pay £40m for Geovany Quenda who will move to Stamford Bridge at the end of next season, having beaten Manchester United to his signature. Speaking to GiveMeSport, Roque (who worked with Quenda at Under 15 level) talked up the teenager’s potential:

“Chelsea may consider him a winger, but Geo is a tremendous defender – strong and commanding. He loves to defend and that’s why his game is so complete and about far more than just travelling with the ball. So I can see him succeeding in lots of positions.”

“As a winger, he is creative and explosive. He reminds me a little bit of Rafael Leao because of how he drives forward and works well in tight spaces. And he has the capacity to see and find a pass.

“But he is arguably more complete than Leao because of his ability to defend. I would say he’s most similar to Bukayo Saka, who also played wingback in the early part of his career.”

Geovany Quenda’s stats this season

The 17-year-old has scored 2 goals and provided 11 assists in 44 appearances since the beginning of the campaign. Those numbers are all the more impressive considering he had not made his first-team debut prior to the Portuguese Super Cup against Porto back in early August.

Quenda will also get a second season as a regular starter under his belt at Sporting before he makes the switch to London next year.

Chelsea have plenty of young wingers

The addition of Quenda is interesting, considering that Estevao Willian will arrive from Palmeiras this summer. The Brazilian is almost the exact same profile as the Sporting Lisbon player – he is also 17 and left-footed.

Kendry Paez is another option that head coach Enzo Maresca will soon have at his disposal, although some have suggested that the young Ecuadorian will be loaned out to Strasbourg.

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