Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City have been monitoring FC Porto winger Oskar Pietuszewski, and his recent performances in Portugal are only increasing that attention.
According to a report from Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, the 17-year-old attacker has been followed by the three English sides for some time. Interest has intensified in recent weeks after a spectacular goal against Benfica at the Estádio da Luz went viral across social media.
The Polish youngster produced a moment of individual brilliance in the match, dribbling past Nicolás Otamendi before finishing in style. The goal quickly circulated online and drew praise from observers across Europe.
The attention comes as Pietuszewski continues to establish himself in Porto’s first team after arriving during the winter transfer window. The winger was signed from Jagiellonia for €8m (£6.9m), with a further €2m (£1.7m) in potential bonuses.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City monitoring
Record explain that Arsenal are among the clubs who have been monitoring Oskar Pietuszewski’s development. The London side have regularly looked for young attacking talent across Europe, and the Porto player has been on their radar for some time.
Chelsea are also said to be following the winger closely. The Stamford Bridge club continue to invest heavily in young players with long-term potential, and Pietuszewski fits the type of emerging talent they have targeted in recent transfer windows.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are another Premier League side credited with interest. Pep Guardiola’s club have one of the most extensive scouting networks in Europe, and the Polish youngster has been on their monitoring list.
The Portuguese newspaper adds that the attention around the player has grown even more since the viral goal against Benfica circulated widely online.
Chelsea and Arsenal were keen in November, so it’s not new for the London pair.
Rapid rise at Porto
Oskar Pietuszewski
Oskar Pietuszewski has made a strong early impression since arriving in Portugal. Across his first eight appearances for Porto, he has already delivered several decisive contributions.
On his debut against Vitória de Guimarães he won a penalty and forced the opposition to finish the match with ten players. He later provided an assist against Rio Ave and scored against Arouca before producing his standout moment against Benfica.
Overall, he has two goals and one assist in his last four league matches. Those displays have helped Porto cope with the absence of Samu, with the teenager stepping into a more prominent attacking role.
The winger will miss Porto’s upcoming European match against Stuttgart because he was not registered for continental competitions. Manager Francesco Farioli was limited to three squad changes and prioritised midfield balance by including Fofana instead.
Still, the Italian coach has shown strong faith in the youngster. He handed him starting roles in Porto’s last four league matches. Meanwhile, he continue to work on his tactical and defensive development at the club’s training complex.
Valuation rising quickly
The growing attention from England also coincides with a sharp increase in the player’s market value.
The CIES Football Observatory recently updated its estimate of Oskar Pietuszewski’s transfer value to €20m (£17.3m). That figure is already double the guaranteed fee Porto agreed to pay Jagiellonia for his transfer.
Despite the interest, Porto remain relaxed about the situation. The winger has a release clause set at €60m (£52m). The club currently have little intention of listening to offers this summer.
Inside the club, Pietuszewski is viewed as a long-term project with enormous development potential.
Poland NT watching closely
His rise in Portugal has also attracted attention from Poland’s national team setup.
Poland manager Jan Urban suggested the youngster could eventually become a key figure for the national side.
“He can become a great figure in Polish football, but of course it depends on him. He has to take advantage of the opportunity,” Urban said. “From what I have seen, Oskar has his head in the right place. The important thing now is that he continues to take steps calmly in Porto’s first team.”
For now, the Porto’s teenager is seen as part of the club’s future, even as Premier League interest continues to grow. But this will not be the first time we see his name in the headlines.