Scouting Report: Introducing Chelsea target Luis Muriel
Born in Santo Tomas, Colombia, Muriel spent his formative years in the youth academies at both Atletico Junior and Deportivo Cali. In 2010 however, he finally made the switch to Europe as he headed for Serie A and Udinese. Having arrived in Friuli, he was sent out on loan to Spanish side Granada before returning to the peninsula to spend the 2011-12 season with Lecce.
He returned to his parent club at the start of the 2012-13 campaign and from there he went on to make 57 appearances for Udinese, scoring 15 goals. In 2015, he made the switch to Sampdoria were he has blossomed into one of Serie A’s deadliest marksmen. This season has seen the Colombian international already grab six league goals and now interest for his signature is coming from all over Europe.
Napoli have made tentative enquiries as they search for a replacement for the injured Arek Milik and Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is keen to bring him to Stamford Bridge in the summer.
Steve Mitchell @barafundler
