Chelsea 'will trigger release clause' of 'mini Messi' Marcus Edwards

Chelsea are reportedly ready to trigger the €60 million release clause of Sporting Lisbon winger Marcus Edwards.

The Blues have already spent nearly £350million on new recruits this summer and roughly £900m since the arrival of Todd Boehly in May 2022.

But the west London club aren't finished there and are keen to bring another attacking player to Stamford Bridge before the transfer deadline slams shut on Friday.

That's according to the Daily Mail, who claim that Maurico Pochettino's side are weighing up moves for Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe alongside Barcelona duo Ferran Torres and Raphinha. Meanwhile, The Telegraph have since added Edwards to that list.

Pochettino knows the 24-year-old well from their time together at Tottenham and could be keen to reunite with him at Stamford Bridge.

Portuguese outlet Record claim that the Blues are yet make a formal offer for the winger. However, the west London club are willing to pay his €60m release clause, according to French publication Foot Mercato.

Back in 2016, Pochettino compared him to seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.

“The qualities - it's only looks, his body and the way that he plays - remember a little bit from the beginning of Messi," Pochettino said.

“He's small, he's left-footed, I remember a little bit [Erik] Lamela when he was at River Plate, remember he had long hair, when he was 14, 15 years old, there is a lot of videos on YouTube that you can see, that he took the ball, didn't give a pass and shot straight away.

“He [Edwards] is a very good prospect and potentially he can be a top player, but we need to be patient and tell him that he has a lot of talent, enough talent to be a top player, a great player. But now it's how he builds his future, that's very important. And it's our responsibility to tell him.”