Chelsea make ‘MAMMOTH’ bid for wonderkid likened to Messi

Chelsea are in the process of making what is described as a “mammoth” bid for a young talent whose team-mates have nicknamed “Messi”, according to a report.

The Stamford Bridge side have become renowned for their focus on youth since BlueCo’s takeover in 2022, and it appears that they are seeking to add yet another young talent to Enzo Maresca’s roster ahead of the summer.

AfricaFoot reports that the Blues are currently watching Seydou Dembele at the U17 Africa Cup of Nations and have quickly been won over by the youngster.

Dembele plays his football for the JMG Academy, which has previously produced Tottenham Hotspur star Yves Bissouma.

Chelsea have already launched a €1.6 million bid for the player, who won Man of the Match awards for his performances in the first two games of the tournament.

Despite this interest from the Blues, they will not be able to sign Dembele permanently until the summer of 2026, by which time he will have turned 18. Complications around his work permit are also likely, meaning that he may have to be shipped out to Chelsea’s sister side Strasbourg in order for the club to get a deal to work.

Red Bull Salzburg and Barcelona are also competition for the signing of the teenage star, who has already spent time in Austria via an internship that has given him a taste of European football.

Seydou Dembele: The African Lionel Messi?

Dembele has earned the nickname Messi due to his slight stature and low centre of gravity, but also because of his creative and dribbling abilities, which have seen him stand out among his peers.

Like the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, he is left-footed and possesses technical skills and vision above the ordinary.

Unsurprisingly, given these qualities, Chelsea are tracking him.