Chelsea are leading the race to sign OGC Nice speedster and former Manchester United youth player Deji Sotona in January.
According to Football Insider, Chelsea are in the driver’s seat in the pursuit of Deji Sotona. The reigning European champions have been monitoring the progress of the OGC Nice speedster for a long time and are now working on a deal to snap him up in the upcoming January transfer window.
A product of the Manchester United youth academy, Sotona was targeted by Chelsea even in the summer transfer window. But the player opted to join OGC Nice on a free transfer, due to the influence of Patrick Vieira.
Unfortunately for him, the Frenchman ended up joining Crystal Palace, leaving Sotona stranded at Nice. It has led to a disappointing start to his life in France, with the forward yet to make a single competitive appearance for his new team despite being a part of the senior squad.
A winger by trade, Sotona is understandably frustrated with his lack of game-time at Nice. As a result, he is now prepared to make his return to England, with Chelsea leading the charge.
Deji Sotona has been 17 for 5 months and still hasn’t been offered a pro contact, despite training with the first team & impressing in the FA Youth Cup ❌✍️ Bundesliga clubs are circling… pic.twitter.com/hIc4hhT9Eg
— Rising Ballers (@RisingBallers_) May 9, 2020
The youngster is highly rated by the Blues due to his blistering pace in the final third. He was one of the fastest players in the Manchester United academy, if not the fastest. In addition to his speed, the youngster is blessed with the technical prowess that allows him to squeeze through tight space while enabling him to create chances from the wider areas of the pitch.
It has made him an appealing target for Thomas Tuchel, with the German keen on filtering out his squad in the near future. The likes of Christian Pulisic and Timo Werner are already facing an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge, while Hakim Ziyech has recently emerged as a top target for AC Milan.
Sotona might not be a direct replacement for these talented forwards, given his lack of experience at the highest level of football. But at the age of just 19, he has time on his side and the potential to become a major asset for the club in the future. It is perhaps why the Blues are set to face stiff competition from fellow London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the pursuit of Deji Sotona this winter.
