Chelsea are set to announce the signing of Nathan from Atletico Paranaense despite late interest in the player from Porto, reports the London Evening Standard.
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The Blues have long been linked to the 19-year-old, but their move had come into doubt after the Portuguese giants made an effort in the 11th hour. The youngster had already completed a medical and agreed terms with the Stamford Bridge outfit earlier in the month, and he has even met some of his potential teammates.
The Brazilian has played for his nation at Under 17 and Under 20 levels, but has never completed a full 90 minutes for his club. He is a midfielder who likes to ‘thread a pass’ according to respected journalist Tim Vickery on talkSPORT, but the reporter also doesn’t understand why the London side would want to sign him. Work permit regulations also mean the teenager will have to be loaned out for at least his first season.
Vickery said: “It’s difficult to see why they [Chelsea] quite want to spend so much money on him. He’s a playmaker who can thread a little pass and did well at under-17 level but poorly at under-20 level. It’s difficult to see what he has done in the last season to justify it.”
So the bizarre transfer looks likely to be completed, but is it a wise move? With Cesc Fabregas, Nemanja Matic, John Obi Mikel, and others already able to play in central midfield for Jose Mourinho, this could well be yet another youngster who fans will never see actually play for the club.