The next Lamine Yamal! Geovany Quenda compared to Barcelona ace by Sporting coach as Chelsea win £40m race for teenage winger

According to Sporting assistant coach Tiago Teixeira, Quenda is treading a similar path to the one Yamal is currently doing. While he didn't say the Sporting youngster was on the Spain international's level, the 17-year-olds have burst onto the scene at a very young age.

He told The Athletic: “I see similarities with Lamine Yamal. Both of them started playing senior football at 16, 17. Yamal is already playing for Spain but Quenda has just been called up by Portugal for the first time and I’m certain he’s going to be a regular in the national team for years to come, and a star of the Champions League. He will get better with age and keep growing in confidence. He has everything he needs.”

Chelsea won the race to sign Quenda for €48m (£40m/$52m), but the teenager will stay in Lisbon for another year before heading to Stamford Bridge in 2026. The right winger, who can also play at right wing-back, is very highly rated but it remains to be seen if he can have anywhere near as much impact as Yamal.

Quenda could feature for Sporting in their away trip to Estrela Amadora in Liga Portugal on Saturday evening.