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Chelsea target Bruma has, according to reports in Portugal, refused to turn up for training with Sporting Lisbon as controversy over his contract mounts. The 18-year-old winger -- rather over-exuberantly described in some circles as the next Ronaldo thanks to where he plays his football and his impressive performances with the under-20 team -- has been linked to a switch to Stamford Bridge for weeks, and it looks as though he's definitely on the way out at the José Alvalade.
With Bruma's agents poised to embark upon a legal battle to get his contract terminated -- the claim is that it lasted through last season rather than next -- Chelsea probably shouldn't wait for the player to be released. It wouldn't be a bad outcome, but what would be much quicker and easier is offering Sporting an escape route by means of a small transfer fee. It would mean Bruma gets to move on, Sporting don't have to worry about losing him for nothing and the Blues get a top prospect at a discount. With the situation already an utter mess for the former two parties, it seems like a reasonable option for everyone involved should the linked reports indeed turn out to be the truth.
We'll just have to wait and see.