Sporting's Ricky van Wolfswinkel
Ricky van Wolfswinkel celebrates his goal against Gil Vicente, during their Portuguese Premier League soccer match at Alvalade stadium in Lisbon. REUTERS

Chelsea are monitoring Sporting Lisbon striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel according to the player's agent.

Van Wolfswinkel's representative, Louis Laros, told the International Business Times that Chelsea, alongside their Premier League counterparts Manchester United, were tracking the 22-year-old following his blistering start in Lisbon.

Although happy to infer Chelsea had been watching the Holland international's prolific season to date, Laros suggested a move to the Premier League in January was very unlikely given his happiness at the Estádio José Alvalade.

When pressed on Chelsea's interest in the former Utrecht starlet, Laros told The International Business Times: "I do not envisage a move in January as I have not heard anything. I think it would be almost impossible but you never say never in football."

On Thursday morning the west London club were widely credited to have joined the race for the Sporting star, but as of yet Chelsea's interest had not been formally pursued yet.

"I know they (Manchester United and Chelsea) are watching him but that is not unusual because they are watching all the best young players in Europe." Louis Laros told the International Business Times on Thursday.

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has been rotating Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres thus far this season yet their recent results, albeit largely down to a porous defence, suggests the under-fire Stamford Bridge tactician is unsure of his best starting 11.

To read the full article on Ricky van Wolfswinkel's immediate future click here.

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