Chelsea 'Ready To Pay' Staggering £35m For 19 Year Old

Chelsea are reportedly ready to pay £35m for Porto's in-form 19-year old midfielder Ruben Neves.

Neves, already a Portugal full international, has enjoyed a fruitful start to the season and has put a host of top European clubs on notice thanks to his classy displays in midfield.

Liverpool have shown interest but it appears as though Chelsea have moved ahead in the race for his signature.

Portuguese outlet Visao de Mercado reports that Chelsea have already contacted the player about a possible move and will look to make the signing happen as soon as January. £24m plus add ons is the price reported for Antonio Conte to bolster his midfield options - both Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas have been linked with moves away and so the fiery Italian is looking for reinforcements.

Neves is one for the one future and though he will not come on the cheap, Chelsea will likely get a number of years service out of him.

He has drawn comparisons with fellow Portugal international Joao Moutinho, who spent three years with Porto and was close to signing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2012.

(h/t The Sun)

Topics: Chelsea, Ruben Neves, porto, Antonio Conte

Josh Lawless

Josh is a writer who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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