The Sun reports that the Blues have made Kamaldeen a high priority as they plan ahead for the January transfer window. Chelsea were first alerted to the Kwara Football Academy prospect after he excelled in the WAFU Zone B U20 Boys Cup held earlier this year in Ghana. Operating from the left wing throughout the tournament, Kamaldeen turned in game-changing performances in both the semi-finals and final, while also scoring a goal in a crucial 4-1 win over Benin.
Kamaldeen can also operate from a deeper central role, leading many keen observers to view him as a number 10 and eliciting comparisons to Nigerian legend Jay Jay Okocha and current Premier League star Alex Iwobi.
Despite entering the game as a late substitute, Kamaldeen found the time to make a lasting impression during Nigeria‘s narrow loss to Norway earlier this week. Facing players up to five years older than him, he almost rescued a point for the Flying Eagles with a late surge into the penalty area.
Chelsea have sent several scouts to Chile to track his progress. The Blues’ global scouting network is particularly focused on youngsters playing above their age group, such as Kamaldeen.
The Blues have recently acquired another young player of Nigerian heritage, snapping up 16-year-old striker Chizaram Ezenwata from Charlton Athletic. Ezenwata is eligible to represent the Flying Eagles, England and Cameroon. It is reported that Chelsea refused to allow him to report for international duty and star alongside Kamaldeen.
Showing out at a youth international tournament is often the quickest path to a career-defining move for young stars. With Kamaldeen expected to start against Saudi Arabia on Thursday, he could cement his future in west London with an outstanding performance. Or, he could well trigger the interest of another premier European club.
