CHELSEA are poised to beat West Ham to the summer signing of Portuguese wonderkid Chiquinho.
The Under-20 international caught the eye of the London rivals with his stunning displays for second-tier Estoril this season.
Reports in Lisbon claim both clubs made bids for the left winger, with the Blues likelier to win the race to buy him.
Chiquinho, who broke into Estoril’s first team recently, has scored once in eight appearances, following 24 games and six goals for their Under-23s.
Born near Lisbon, the midfielder came through Sporting’s academy before joining Estoril – whose home town used to host the Portuguese Grand Prix.
The Cape Verde-born player, capped four times for Portugal’s Under-20s, is expected to break into the senior side in a few years.
Blues boss Frank Lampard is likely to make a series of summer signings, with Willian, Olivier Giroud and Pedro coming to their end of their contracts.
And ex-Hammers midfielder Lamps now looks set to beat his old club – and land exciting prospect Chiquinho for a cut-price fee.
