Absolute Chelsea
·14 March 2025
Inside Chelsea's £58.5m double transfer raid of Sporting CP as Man United stunned by 'secret blitz'

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Yahoo sportsAbsolute Chelsea
·14 March 2025
Chelsea are advancing to complete a double transfer deal to sign two of Sporting CP's highly-rated youngsters.
The Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership have already made their plans clear over their intentions to bring the best young talent to Stamford Bridge, with the likes of Estevao Willian, Kendry Paez and Andrey Santos all on the club's books this summer.
However, the flurry of talent is set to continue after it was confirmed by Fabrizio Romano that a deal had been reached for 17-year-old star Geovany Quenda, who was called up to the latest Portugal National Team squad for the March internationals.
Quenda has already undergone his Chelsea medical with staff in Portugal after a club-to-club agreement was reached on Thursday. The teenager has been convinced by the project in west London.
Manchester United were heavily interested in Quenda, however a 'secret blitz' has seen Chelsea swoop in and clinch a deal, which will see him move to England in the summer of 2025.
IMAGO / justpictures.ch
A fee of around £40m has been agreed between Chelsea and Sporting for Quenda, who will sign a seven-year contract with the option of a further year. The plan is to deploy him as a 'pure winger', as reported by David Ornstein.
However, Chelsea's pursuit of Quenda isn't the only deal they are looking to agree with Sporting.
As reported by CNN Portugal, midfielder Dário Essugo, who is currently on loan at Spanish side Las Palmas, is expected to join Chelsea this summer for a fee worth in the region of £18.5m.
The 20-year-old is suggested to be set to pen a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge until June 2032.
Ben Jacobs reports talks are taking place between the clubs, however no deal is yet complete for Essugo to move to the English capital.
Chelsea will also welcome back Andrey Santos (not pictured) from his loan spell at RC Strasbourg. It would provide further competition for Essugo (pictured) if he remains with the squad should the midfielder sign. / IMAGO / Maciej Rogowski
But the signs are there for business to be done, with potential transfers gathering pace. Chelsea continue to plan for the future, but the main focus is currently the present until the end of May as Maresca aims to win the Conference League and qualify for next season's Champions League.
"In this moment we have two targets: finish top four or five for the Champions League and the other is (winning) the Conference League," Maresca said ahead of Chelsea's Premier League clash against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
He concluded: "This club is used to playing in finals and fighting for titles, so if we can give the fans and club this chance again then I think it’s important for us."