Sources: Chelsea in pole position to sign Sotona after Man United exit
Chelsea are in pole position to sign former Manchester United starlet Deji Sotona, Football Insider can exclusively reveal.
The Irish forward sensation, 19, quit United in October of last year to join French club OGC Nice after rejecting a new Old Trafford contract.
A Chelsea source has told Football Insider the club are now in the driving seat to capture Sotona from the Ligue 1 side.
The European champions are working on a deal ahead of the January window after failing to land the teenager in the summer.
Sotona’s future has been in doubt at Nice after the departure of Patrick Vieira as manager last December.
The France World Cup winner, who is now in charge of Crystal Palace, had been instrumental in persuading the attacker the leave United.
But things have turned sour for Sotona since Vieira was sacked.
That has opened the door for a return to England and a potential move to another Premier League giant.
Sotona is on the radar of Chelsea for a second consecutive window due to his blistering speed and the cutting edge he can provide in the final third.
The teenager was recorded as the fastest player when he was on the books of Man United.
He reached a speed of 22.9mph, which was 1.2mph quicker than Diogo Dalot, the second fastest player at the club at the time.
OGC Nice’s official announcement of his arrival even saw him described as an ‘explosive‘ forward.
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