Chelsea boast one of world's best teenagers... and 'want to sign two more'

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Tom Dutton11 May 2020

Chelsea boast one of the top teenage superstars in world football, according to work compiled by Football Talent Scout.

They have produced a list of the leading 50 emerging teens in football, with Real Madrid target Rayan Cherki top of the pile.

The 16-year-old has shone at Lyon this season, but the decision to void the campaign reportedly means his release clause can be triggered because they will miss out on a Champions League spot next season.

Mason Greenwood is ranked third as the top name from the Premier League, with no less than three Arsenal players in the top 10.

Just outside the top 10 is Chelsea's Billy Gilmour and Manchester United target Jude Bellingham, while United have two further representatives in the top 50, in Hannibal Mejbri and James Garner.

Gilmour has impressed under Frank Lampard at Chelsea this term, and looked set to play a significant role in the first team going forward before the season was interrupted by coronavirus.

A man-of-the-match performance against Liverpool in the FA Cup at the beginning of March propelled Gilmour into the limelight. The 18-year-old ran the show, shone against Everton days later and had emerged as a key player for Lampard in the space of a few short weeks.

And it was the now Chelsea boss who played a key role in Gilmour's move to Chelsea in 2017, with several Premier League clubs interested in prising him away from Rangers at the time.

Lampard was helping out with the club’s academy teams as part of his Uefa A-Licence qualification when he was asked to present to Gilmour and his family as part of Chelsea’s pitch to sign the then 16-year-old.

He is the standout teen from an academy system which has served Chelsea well this term, and the club are keen to lure more of the world's would-be superstars.

AFP via Getty Images

Both Gabriel Veron (above) and Filip Stevanović have been linked with the Blues in recent months. According to 90min, both players feature prominently on Lampard's wishlist.

The Blues will face a battle for both with up to 14 clubs in the chase for Stevanovic, and Real Madrid said to be leading the chase for Veron. Both Manchester clubs are also reportedly in the hunt for the starlets.

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