Chelsea are reportedly set to sign 19-year-old Argentine defender Aaron Anselmino from Boca Juniors, beating Manchester United to his signature.
According to Ben Jacobs and Fabrízio Romano, Chelsea have secured an agreement with Argentine club Boca Juniors for Aaron Anselmino, and they will pay a fee of £14 million for him. The highly-rated 19-year-old defender will sign a six-year contract with Chelsea.
The defender is unlikely to join Chelsea immediately, and he will stay with Boca Juniors for at least six months. The Argentine wonderkid was linked with a move to Manchester United as well. But the Red Devils have not submitted an offer for the player, and Chelsea have swooped in to secure his services.
The 19-year-old is a prodigious talent with a bright future, and he could develop into a key player for Chelsea with the right guidance. The Blues have shown a willingness to invest in young players, and Anselmino would be a long-term investment for them. They need to bring in a quality young central defender this summer and the Argentine defender should prove to be the ideal acquisition.
Anselmino to replace Thiago Silva?
Thiago Silva parted ways with Chelsea earlier this summer upon the expiry of his contract, and the Blues needed to replace him. The 19-year-old defender could be the ideal long-term replacement for the veteran defender. It will be interesting to see if he can hit the ground running in the Premier League and establish himself as a starter for Chelsea when he arrives in England.
The defender will look to continue his development with regular football at Boca Juniors for now and join up with the English club in the near future. Chelsea have a proven track record when it comes to nurturing young players, and they will be hoping to help the 19 year-old fulfil tremendous potential in the coming years.
The reported £14 million deal could look like a major bargain if the defender managers to adapt to English football and fulfil potential with Chelsea. Chelsea need to improve their squad this summer if they want to compete with the elite clubs, and it remains to be seen whether they can bring in the right reinforcement before the new season begins.
