Manchester City could now miss out on the signing of Chelsea youngster Jude Soonsup-Bell, with the striker keen on a move overseas rather than staying in England to join another academy.
According to the Evening Standard, the 19-year-old striker is leaning towards signing for a European club where first-team opportunities will likely be more plentiful rather than staying in England, where City have been in talks with the England youth international.
Regarded as an exciting Chelsea prospect who has spent his entire career with the west London giants, City were linked with a move for Soonsup-Bell before the January transfer window even opened as reported by the Evening Standard, where European clubs were also looking at the teenager.
However, it now seems that the striker is set on leaving Chelsea and England as a whole for a move overseas, a decision many young British talents have made in recent years to great success, with Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham the two obvious success stories.
Indeed, whilst City have had talks with Soonsup-Bell and the Manchester giants would be an ideal destination for the teenager to develop his game, it makes sense why the striker is set on signing for a club not-based in England, where the forward is more likely to play immediate first-team football.
With English talents becoming more and more prized, Soonsup-Bell will be a prime target for many top sides in Europe, where there’s a strong chance the forward will be a regular starter, unlike if the youngster opted to sign for City given Pep Guardiola’s current forward options.
Soonsup-Bell would be wise to reject City to sign for European club
Soonsup-Bell has impressed over the years at youth level for both club and country, and whilst it makes sense that City would be an ideal next step for the striker, the 19-year-old is being smart in thinking about his immediate career and wanting to play first-team football now, something that will only happen on the continent.
With British youngsters taking up the chance to go abroad, there’s every chance that Soonsup-Bell will be picked up by a European club before the end of the season. And for City, the Manchester side will likely not feel too guilty if the forward ultimately rejects a move up north.
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