Chelsea closing in on transfer for Sporting wonderkid Dario Essugo despite young stars’ concerns about joining Blues

CHELSEA are closing in on a deal for Sporting Lisbon star Dario Essugo.

The Blues want to sort out a fee with the Portuguese side quickly as the 19-year-old midfielder’s reputation grows on loan at Las Palmas.

Essugo will only be keen if he is to be part of the squad — a growing issue with young stars chased by the London club.

Striker Eli Junior Kroupi, 18, chose Bournemouth instead of Chelsea last week when he quit French side Lorient.

And the Blues’ Argentinian centre-half Aaron Anselmino, 19, refused a loan to Strasbourg because he does not want to be moved around.

Essugo joined Sporting in 2014 at the tender age of nine years old.

After eight years within the Lisbon giants' youth ranks, the defensive midfielder earned a senior call-up.

The Portugal Under-21 international would then split his time between the first and B team.

That led to recent loan stints at Chaves and of course Las Palmas.

Essugo has amassed a total of one goal in 14 appearances with the LaLiga outfit this season.

This comes after a total of 25 appearances with Sporting the last four years.

Essugo made history with the Portuguese outfit in 2021 when he became the club’s youngest ever player to wear the jersey at just 16 years and six days

Chelsea didn't bring any new players during this past January transfer window.

The Blues just recalled Gabriel Slonina, Trevoh Chalobah, David Datro Fofana and Anselmino from their loan stints.