Sporting gem Wilson Eduardo attracts attention of Premiership duo

Liverpool and Chelsea poised to fight for Sporting starlet

Although yet to make the first team, Sporting youth player Wilson Eduardo is attracting the attentions of some of Europe’s biggest clubs, namely Liverpool and Chelsea.

The striker has impressed both for Sporting’s youth team and Portugal U19s. His main assets are his speed, his intelligence and movement in and around the area, and an uncanny knack for losing his marker, as well as excellent skill level. Some have gone as far as to say he is a young version of Liedson.

Two weeks ago the 18-year-old made it into the first-team squad for the first time for Sporting’s Liga Sagres match against Estrela da Amadora.

Next season he is set to be part of the senior squad of the Lisbon outfit, unless he is snapped up before making his debut, which would not be unprecedented in Portugal. Both Luis Boa Morte and Pedro Pauleta enjoyed successful careers abroad without kicking a ball in anger in senior professional club football in their home country.

Eduardo has been tipped as a future star of the Portuguese game and according to the Portuguese sports daily A Bola, Premiership clubs Chelsea and Liverpool have compiled detailed reports about the youngster and are keeping a very close eye on him. Watch this space.

by Tom Kundert