Chelsea have reportedly identified yet another South American wonderkid as a potential transfer target.
In the near-three years under the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital banner, there has been a relentless approach to acquiring young talent from that part of the world.
Players have already been acquired from the likes of Brazil, Argentina and Ecuador with club officials believing that the method will eventually pay off.
As it stands, Chelsea have plans to integrate teenagers Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez – both 17 and of Palmeiras and Independiente del Valle repsectively – into their senior ranks for 2025-26.
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Chelsea switch attention to Colombia?
According to The Sun, Chelsea have now sent scouts to assess the capabilities of yet another eye-catching playmaker from South America.
The report claims that Neyser Villarreal is on the radar of the West Londoners having recently made an impression with Millonarios.
Although the 19-year-old has only made 13 senior appearances, he has already racked up 10 goals from 14 outings for Colombia Under-20s.
Villarreal posted some remarkable figures at the recent Under-20 South American Championship, contributing eight goals and four assists from just nine appearances.
Furthermore, in the game in question that the aforementioned scout attended, Villarreal showboated by standing on the ball which sparked a brawl between his teammates and Santa Fe.
With his contract expiring at the end of 2025, clubs are naturally considering whether to take a punt on the versatile attacker.
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Would Villarreal be viewed as Chelsea first-teamer?
The same report alleges that a wide-ranging list of teams are monitoring the situation, including Watford, Porto and Inter Miami.
With teams from the second tier of English football, Portugal and the United States in the race, it is an indication that there is uncertainty as to how Villarreal’s career could progress.
Each of the aforementioned clubs are attractive options in their own right, depending on how Villarreal wishes to progress.
As for Chelsea, Villarreal could be considered for a loan stint with Strasbourg if he were to sign for the Premier League side, much like Angelo Gabriel was earlier in the Boehly and Clearlake reign.
