Chelsea could be encouraged in their pursuit of IFK Gothenburg’s teenage star Oliver Mansson, who stated he was ‘open’ to a lot of moves.
Chelsea have largely prioritised signing young players entering a phase that is closer to the first team than to some of the youth-level teams. The idea is to have an accelerated development of those up-and-coming stars, which has seen the club benefit on multiple occasions.
At Stamford Bridge, that strategy has two ways about it, with one being that the said player goes on to become an important first-team star or gets sold for a sum that is deemed profitable for Chelsea. Either way, players are more open to this way of developing their game, which does offer teenagers decent first-team opportunities at the highest level.
Chelsea and Arsenal were linked with IFK Gothenburg teenager Oliver Mansson, with the 17-year-old wonderkid turning heads with his performances in Sweden. Manchester United were also linked recently, which showcases how highly rated the teenager is at the moment, despite not playing for one of the clubs in a top-five league.
Chelsea encouraged by Mansson comments
Mansson has spoken to the media, as Sport Bladet ran some of his comments regarding the teenager’s future. The 17-year-old Scandinavian wonderkid insisted he is open to a lot of different ideas when asked about his preferred club when he leaves IFK Gothenburg, as Chelsea will be encouraged by what he said. The teenager also remained open to the prospect of staying at his current club, as his comments hinted.
Mansson said, “When I was little, I liked Barça, as I’ve said before… It’s a big step. I’m open to a lot. It’s going to be good and has to suit my game too. We’ll see if I stay or go. If I stay, I’ll just continue with Blåvitt and hopefully have a good spring too.”
Chelsea could make the move for the teenager if there is a deal to be made, although the competition surrounding the young star could prove decisive. The likes of Arsenal and Manchester United could continue keeping tabs with a view to a future move.
Should Chelsea accelerate their pursuit of the 17-year-old, their rivals are also expected to follow suit. The report also names Barcelona as a potential suitor, which makes up for some of the attractive clubs for any up-and-coming star to choose from, as the Blues also maintain an important position in the pecking order.
