Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says the club want to sign trialist Bertrand Traore.
Jose Mourinho says Chelsea want to sign 17-year-old Bertrand Traore but has admitted the youngster is likely to be sent on loan.
The Burkino Faso international scored and provided an assist in Chelsea’s 4-1 friendly win over a Malaysia XI in Kuala Lumpur but is still not officially contracted to the club, who are describing Traore as a “trialist”.
The Blues say the young forward cannot sign a deal before his 18th birthday – rather than 17th, as is the norm – because he is in the UK on a student visa.
Traore is unlikely to receive a work permit from the Home Office and Mourinho has admitted the midfielder, who spent last season with French outfit Auxerre, will probably be sent on loan.
“We’ll have to wait until he becomes 18 to try to get the permit for him to stay in England,” the Portuguese told the Independent.
“If it’s not possible we have to let him go on loan somewhere, but we have the guarantee that he plays for his national team. For a 17-year-old boy, sooner or later, the committee has to give him a permit to play in England.
“If he goes on loan somewhere, he has to go, but if he’s playing for his country at the same time – one of the most important countries in African football – he’ll get his deserved permit.
“So no dramas with it. It’s fantastic for him to come here and play well for Chelsea.”
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