Lokomotiv Moscow starlet Sergey Pinyaev has emerged on the radars of Manchester City and Chelsea ahead of the summer transfer window.
Sergey Pinyaev, 19, is regarded as one of the brightest talents of Russian football. The attacker has been making waves with Lokomotiv Moscow, with multiple clubs across Europe regularly scouting him. He has enjoyed a solid 2023/24 season, racking up three goals and four assists in 23 league games.
A former Manchester United trialist, Pinyaev has been drawn comparisons with the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo for his style of play. Whether the teenager lives up to that promise remains to be seen, but he is certainly been tracked by some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Manchester City could reportedly battle Chelsea for the Russian winger’s signature, while Manchester United remain interested in the player after his trial at the club back in 2020. However, Pinyaev’s suitors are likely to face a lot of hurdles.
Sergey Pinyaev attracting interest from Premier League
With the Russia-Ukraine war still going on, any potential move to England for Sergey Pinyaev is about to come with its set of complications. The British government is unlikely to sanction the purchase of a player plying his trade in Russia, which could scupper a move for either Man City or Chelsea.
However, Man City and Chelsea may lean towards their so-called sister clubs to loan out Pinyaev until he gets a green signal to play in the Premier League. The teenager could join one of the clubs owned by the Cityzens and the Pensioners, anywhere in Europe.
Both Troyes and Girona have connections with the City Football Group, while Strasbourg is a part of Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital’s Chelsea. So, there are ways for the Premier League clubs to flex their muscles and still sign Russian players as a long-term investment that could play big roles in the future.
Back to Pinyaev, who is now the youngest appearance maker and goalscorer in the prestigious Russian national team’s history, could be available at around a meagre £26 million this summer. There are plenty of clubs interested in Pinyaev, but Man City and Chelsea certainly are bigwigs in this equation.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.