Argentine starlet set for Blues
Avram Grant took over from Jose Mourinho in September
Tuesday, 18, Dec 2007 09:33
Chelsea manager Avram Grant has made his first foray into the transfer market with the signing of Argentinean youngster Franco Di Santo.
The 18-year-old forward has made his name with eight goals in 21 games for Chilean side Audax Italiano this season and a string of impressive performance for Argentina's age-grade sides.
As a holder of an Italian passport Di Santo is able to make an immediate move to the Premier League without the risk of a Home Office intervention wrecking the switch.
The opening of the transfer window in January should see the promising striker make his way to west London with only the final few details on his transfer to be ironed out.
"Everything is nearly agreed, there are only a few details to be resolved but there will not be any problems," Audax president Valentin Cantergiani said.
"We only have to agree the fee that Audax will receive if Di Santo is transferred again in the future and that's all. All the rest has been arranged. We are exchanging the last documents."
It is believed that the rest of the so-called "big four" – Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal- had also been monitoring Di Santo before Stamford Bridge officials tied up an agreement.
Di Santo will join Israeli hope Ben Sahar and English youngster Scott Sinclair in pushing for a first-team striking berth at the Blues.