Chelsea close in on Fluminense striker Kenedy

Chelsea are closing in on the signing of Fluminense’s talented teenage striker Kenedy.

The Barclays Premier League champions completed the signing of Nathan from Atletico Paranaense on Monday night.

But they are also confident of recruiting 19-year-old Kenedy during the summer even though Fluminense will expect the bidding to start at £5million.

Like Nathan, he is a Brazil Under 20 international, and his progress has been closely monitored by many of Europe’s top clubs, including Manchester United and Barcelona, since he starred as top scorer in the South American U17 championships, two years ago.

Chelsea’s strong Brazilian connections seem to have played a part in convincing Kenedy and earlier this year his club agreed to sell his economic rights to the company who represent Oscar, Willian and Ramires, run by agent Giuliano Bertolucci.

Jose Mourinho has four full Brazil internationals in his squad – also Filipe Luis – and other youngsters out on loan like Lucas Piazon, at Eintracht Frankfurt, and Wallace, at Vitesse Arnhem.

Kenedy and Nathan are unlikely to be granted a work permit under the Home Office’s strict new regulations and will spend next season on loan.

It will alert Vitesse Arnhem, the Dutch club in partnership with Chelsea but the London club are also keen to strengthen relationships with other European club, including Mouscron-Peruwelz, in Belgium.

Credit: Matt Barlow/SportsMail