Blues Talk: Chelsea Closing In on Santos' Wonderkid, 18-year-old Neymar.

The 18-year-old has emerged as one of the hottest properties in world football having bagged 27 goals in all competitions this year.

Neymar's club Santos claims they have rejected a bid of €20 million from English champions Chelsea for their teenage sensation.

But according to reports, the London club will return with an improved bid in an attempt to entice Neymar to West London.

A statement from Santos read:

"Santos FC declare they have received an official proposal from Chelsea FC of England for the economic rights of forward Neymar."

The statement later read, "Santos FC have no interest in opening negotiations."

There was a huge amount of pressure on Brazil coach Dunga to include Neymar and his partner in crime Ganso in his 23-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa and subsequently suffered heavy criticism for leaving them at home.

Neymar, who didn't even make the 30-man preliminary World Cup squad, signed a five-year deal with the Brazilian club just six months ago but is apparently keen on a move to Chelsea and the financial rewards it could bring him and his family.

His agent Wagner Ribeiro had this to say about a possible transfer.

"I'm having a meeting with the boy's parents and another with Santos, but most important of all is what the boy wants.

"If he says he wants to leave, we'll have to negotiate with Santos and the investment group (who own 40 percent of Neymar's rights), and we will try to talk to Chelsea about the price.

"But what tips the scales will be the boy himself. He is not ready to go to Europe—no boy of his age is—but he already knows what he wants."

Chelsea's interest in Neymar says a lot about how Chelsea feel about the current crop of young forwards, Daniel Sturridge, Fabio Borini, and Franco Di Santo, at the club.

Sturridge aside, the club hasn't exactly shown a lot of faith in these kids and Di Santo failing to impress on his season-long loan spell with Blackburn has obviously concerned the management.

However, this season is probably the best time to be a youngster at Chelsea.

With the likes of 17 year olds Josh McEachran and Conor Clifford, both part of the 2010 youth FA Cup winning team, getting their first professional contracts, Carlo Anchelotti has promised a whole host of youngsters will get their chance to shine with Kakuta, Van Aanholt, Bruma, and Sturridge being at the front of the queue.

An interesting article regarding Neymar on www.goal.com.