After supposedly having a £30m bid rejected by Sao Paulo for their star midfielder, Lucas Moura, Chelsea have gained the long-term commitment of summer signing, Lucas Piazon.
The 18 year-old was signed from the Brazilian outfit for a reported fee of £5m after Chelsea beat out Juventus in the chase for the prospect who is being pegged for a bright future.
Piazon has earned comparisons to compatriot Kaka, and while the Real Madrid midfielder hasn’t lived up to his expectations in La Liga, he was an irrepressible force during his time with AC Milan that led to his estimated £56m worth.
Though he’s yet to feature for the club’s senior team, Piazon will undoubtedly figure into first team plan more in coming months after ticking off one of the formalities in his contract.
Work permit complications meant that the Brazilian could not make his debut for the Chelsea senior side until reaching the age of 18, which he did on the 20th of this month.
Piazon has featured for the Blues’ reserve team on five occasions this season scoring two goals in the process.
The starlet is also a Brazilian international and has featured for the Under-17 side 14 times since making his first appearance in 2011.
Given their failed attempt to sign Moura, the contract extension of Piazon can only mean that they are looking at the attacking midfielder to possibly replace the again Frank Lampard when he eventually takes his bow from Stamford Bridge which could be sooner than expected.