Chelsea have been active in the transfer market and now appear set to turn their intention to incoming moves for the likes of Nicolas Jackson and Moises Caicedo but they still have some focus on finding the next generation of talent
Brazil’s Santos Angelo Gabriel celebrates after scoring a goal (Image: NATACHA PISARENKO/AFP)
It’s safe to say that Chelsea have made signing football’s best young talents a firm priority since the club’s takeover last summer. The likes of Omari Hutchinson, Cesare Casadei, Zak Sturge, Carney Chukwuemeka and Gabriel Slonina were all acquired in the summer of 2022 before Andrey Santos and Malo Gusto were signed in January before heading back on loan to Vasco da Gama and Lyon respectively.
Even the club’s first-team signings were barely out of their teenage years with Noni Madueke, David Datro Fofana, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk all having arrived aged 22 or younger. That approach does not appear to be changing any time soon with the Blues nearing moves for 22-year-old Nicolas Jackson and 21-year-old Moises Caicedo.
The latest teenager targeted by Chelsea appears to be Santos forward Angelo Gabriel however. The Brazilian is reported to be nearing a move from South America with ‘advanced talks’ taking place over a £15 million move. football.london takes a look at the youngster.
Who is Angelo Gabriel?
The 18-year-old most commonly features on the right wing looking to cut-in on his left foot and has been involved in the Santos system since the age of 10. The Brazilian under-20 international was playing for Santos’ under-20 side by the age of 15 and made his professional debut before turning 16 when he became the second youngest player to feature for the club behind 1962 World Cup winner Coutinho.
The winger has already notched up 129 appearances for his club and recorded five goals and ten assists. Two of those strikes have come in 12 appearances Serie appearances this term where the 18-year-old has seen his contributions vary betwen the bench and the starting lineup. He was not in the squad the under-20 South American Championship or World Cup in which Andrey Santos featured as he was not released by Santos for the competitions.
Former Santos coach, Ariel Holan told SporTV: “I see a lot of potential in Angelo. He is a boy who likes to go for the goal. I really like Brazilian football, and Angelo plays Brazilian football. This essence of dribbling, of taking on the opponent, is very important.
“He has a huge future. By working hard, he will be able to play not only at Santos, but I believe that, in the future, he will be able to play in major leagues around the world.”
Who has he been compared to?
His first coach and teacher Betinho described Angelo as ‘like Neymar in terms of his dribbling at speed and his change of direction’.
The diminutive forward is never far away from a high profile name either having surpassed Rodrygo to become Santos’ youngest player to feature in the Copa Libertadores, while he broke the record of Juan Carlos Cardenas to become the youngest player to score in a Libertadores match at 16 years and 105 days old.
Who has he been linked to?
Chelsea are leading the race but since 2021, Angelo has drawn interest from the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool. The prospect has been raised that the Blues could even send him on loan to Strasbourg given the connection now in place between the clubs.
A fee of close to £30m has even been touted in the past but it appears Chelsea have come to an agreement of £15m.
Soucre: football.london
