The ‘Special One’ wants to make Andre Gomes his first Portuguese signing upon returning.
Returning Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has targeted Benfica youngster Andre Gomes as one of his first signings back at Stamford Bridge, according to fichajes.net.
The 19-year-old is building himself an impressive reputation at the Estadio da Luz and Mourinho would have to pay out €30m to land the midfielder.
Gomes made the step up from Benfica’s youth side to the first team in the summer of 2012 and appeared 27 times for the Portuguese outfit, including five European matches in both the Champions League and Europa League.
During Mourinho’s first spell in west London between 2004 and 2007 the 50-year-old built up a significant Portuguese entourage at the club, having arrived from Primeira Liga champions FC Porto.
Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira and Deco all arrived at the Bridge during the ‘Special One’s’ term at Chelsea, but with Ferreira being released on a free transfer this summer there are now no stars from Portugal in the squad.
With Gomes being such a prestigious young talent the central midfielder would be the ideal candidate to fill this role, although the high fee demanded for a fairly unproven player may be a stumbling block.
The teenager is the captain of the Portugal under-20s side however, who are currently competing at the World Cup in Turkey with the Benfica man having played 10 times at that level and scoring once.
If he were to join Mourinho at the Blues Gomes would add to an extensive list of youngsters at the Bridge who are vying for first team spots – with Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku expected to be given their chance this season following successful loan spells in 2012/13.
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