Crystal Palace are interested in acquiring the services of Chelsea Under-21 player Jeremie Boga but face competition from Premier League rivals Sunderland, according to French media outlet Foot Mercato.
It is also reported that a number of La Liga clubs including Rayo Vallecano and Celta Vigo are monitoring the situation and are willing to take the youngster on loan for a season, to give the attacking player the first team experience that he requires at his age, after featuring in Chelsea’s FA Youth Cup winning side.
He has yet to make a competitive first team appearance at Chelsea, with it being hard for any young player to break through into the side. However, the 18-year-old did feature in two games in Asia before the end of the season with Jose Mourinho’s side playing against Thailand All-Stars and Sydney FC.
The player has spoken about his future though recently, telling Foot Mercato that he would be prepared to move back to France if he failed to make a breakthrough into the Premier League with Chelsea or any other side.
“My first choice would be to stay in England. After that we’ll see,” he said.
“If there are good options in L1 that match my profile, I would definitely consider. Marseille? Why not? This is a club close to my heart.”
Boga joined the Blues as an under-12’s player and has progressed through the ranks at the club ever since. The attacking midfielder featured in all but one of his club’s seven games in the UEFA Youth League competition, scoring four goals and creating two in a competition that saw Chelsea lift the cup after defeating Shakhtar Donetsk 3-2 in the final.
Crystal Palace will be intent on recruiting another talented youngster, after losing a highly-rated play in Mandela Egbo to German side Borrusia Monchengladbach last week after refused to sign a new contract at Selhurst Park when his scolarship deal expired at the end of the season in which he featured heavily for the under-21’s.
