By Peter Young
Chelsea are set to rival Crystal Palace for highly-rated Gambian teenager Adama Bojang – who is valued at a bargain price of £650,000 (D50 million) ahead of this summer – but the striker could initially struggle for a work permit.
The teenager shone for Gambia in the recent U20’s edition of the Afcon tournament in Egypt, registering four goals as the ‘Young Scorpions’ made their way to the final in March. Bojang is also expected to star again at the U20 World Cup tournament at the end of this domestic season.
The 18-year-old centre-forward plays his club football for Steve Biko FC in his native Gambia and is currently valued at around £650,000, (D50million). Chelsea and Palace are just two of the most recent clubs in the Premier League to show signs of interest in ‘the Gambian Hurricane’ as a handful of others have also been closely monitoring his development.
Tottenham and Nottingham Forest have also been reported to be monitoring Bojang’s progress with Steve Biko. However, securing a work permit for the 6ft 3ins teenager could present a series of difficulties for any English side.
The Premier League clubs interested in landing Bojang are believed to be considering making an initial investment on the striker and then sending him immediately out on loan. His physical attributes and style of play have drawn comparisons to Napoli and Nigeria centre-forward Victor Osimhen, with some believing he could go on to better Osimhen’s achievements in the game.
He is so similar to the Napoli man in style that the Partenopei are also in the mix along with Chelsea, Palace and the rest of the Premier League clubs. Marseille, Ajax and Royal Antwerp are among the teams on the contintent who remain interested in investing in the Gambian talent.
Speaking after becoming the first Gambian to score a hat-trick in a CAF tournament at the start of March, Bojang said: ‘I feel so excited to score a hat-trick; these are my first goals in this tournament.
“Coming to this tournament and showing my talent to Africa and the world, and having a hat-trick for my country as a youngster, is so amazing,” Bojang told the media.
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