Chelsea have been brought into the Bruno Fernandes scenario by Portuguese newspaper A Bola on Monday. They’re the third Premier League club to be the subject of strong links to Fernandes recently.

First it was Tottenham and then not long after came Liverpool, with interest from Atletico Madrid being claimed sometime in-between.

That’s now made it a four club race for the Sporting player, and if the interest is genuine it would help push the price up. However, each summer there seems to be a Sporting player chosen who is hyped up beyond all belief, who half of Europe are said to be interested in, and who then goes nowhere.

To be fair to Fernandes he’s having a great season, playing mainly as an attacking midfielder. Two goals in Sporting’s match on Saturday against Portimonense will help nudge transfer rumours along, and could be the inspiration behind a claim of Chelsea interest.

Sporting have Fernandes on a contract with a €100m clause and they’ll push for near to that figure, which would certainly seem overpriced for the 23 year old. A lot may depend on the World Cup, and if the player is much involved and of course how he then performs.

Chelsea are said to have initiated contact with people close to the player, trying to find out his intentions. Meanwhile, Liverpool and Tottenham are said to be ‘lurking’, previous claimed stated the Anfield club have held meeting’s with Fernandes’ agents, and Spurs have been scouting him.