I'm surprised no one posted anything regarding this player yet. There's a strong rumor that a 20 year old winger from Sporting Lisbon is coming to us on a loan deal till the end of the season.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12874_4019482,00.html

Former Portugal Under-21 coach Jose Couceiro has backed Fabio Paim to be a success at Chelsea.

Paim is being tipped to move to Stamford Bridge on a season-long loan from Sporting Lisbon with a view to a permanent deal.

At one time the 20-year-old was regarded as the next big thing at Sporting, but over the past season he has failed to make the expected progress.

Now Chelsea's boss Luiz Felipe Scolari is ready to take the young winger to London, where he hopes to kick-start his career.

Former Porto chief Couceiro, who worked with Scolari for two-years, insists that Paim would flourish under the Brazilian.

"He is a player with enormous potential, which needs stabilising and let's hope that will come from a new club," Couceiro - now head coach of Lithuania, told Antena 1.

"Chelsea is a great club, so it is possible he will stabilise there.

"It is important to train with coaches who can speak your language and with a coach of the level of Scolari."

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=828017

The 20 year-old Portuguese winger, Fabio Paim, is thrilled at the prospect of joining Premier League leaders Chelsea from Sporting Clube de Portugal on loan - and determined to impress enough at Stamford Bridge to secure a permanent move there.

Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari (pictured) is about to take the Lisbon starlet on loan until the end of the current season.

Paim had spells on loan to Trofense and Pacos Ferreira last season, and made seven League appearances with Pacos.

But Scolari, previously manager of Portugal, was clearly aware of Paim and sees potential there which the youngster now has the chance to develop with one of Europe’s top clubs.

The opportunity has both thrilled and shocked Paim, who told Maisfutebol: “It is a surprise, I was not expecting anything.

“I have no words to describe it. It is an unbelievable thing, it is a very important step and undoubtedly the greatest of my career.

“Beyond my year loan, they have an option to buy and of course, they have to observe me.â€

It is up to him to ensure that Chelsea like what they observe.

Looks like Scolari has played little to mutch CM4 here. I just cant se that a player that dont manage to break into Sporting will do it with us.

Looks like Scolari has played little to mutch CM4 here. I just cant se that a player that dont manage to break into Sporting will do it with us.

Maybe Phil wants a challenge trying to make this guy play according his abilities. I've never played CM so I don't know anything about this Paim-guy but according to stories in internet this guy was supposed to be as good as Ronaldo or better. If he's cheap and willing to work I have no problems on taking him on a loan deal.

Sky sports news are saying we've got him on a season long loan.

http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Foo...lsea-loan-Paim/

Portuguese giants Sporting have confirmed Chelsea have completed the loan signing of Fabio Paim.

Setantasports.com brought you news of Chelsea’s interest in Paim on Wednesday, and now the expected season-long agreement has gone through.

The 20-year-old striker is well known to Luiz Felipe Scolari from his time as coach of Portugal, and Chelsea have put in place an option to sign the youngster permanently.

“Fábio Paim has been released for loan until the end of the season to Chelsea Football Club,†read a statement on Sporting’s official website.

“At the end of the season, the English club has right of option for the acquisition of the attacker.â€

Paim is similarly versatile to Cristiano Ronaldo, preferring to play his football out wide whilst also posing a danger more centrally.

His discipline has been a hindrance to his fledgling career, but Scolari will believe he can bring the best out of the Portuguese starlet.

Just saw that as well - I guess there is no harm in the deal, gives us a chance to see if he can add anything to the squad and let him go if he doesn't - makes a change for us to get the better end of a loan deal!

Totally risk free on our part, he was very highly regarded but stalled so if he can get his head straight we may have a very good player on our hands.

I think we'll probably see him in the reserves for a while.

Edited August 21, 200817 yr by snitrbt25

fm hero.

although, quite nice to see us try to recruit from left field. hope it works.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...sea/7575799.stm

So we just sign Portuguese speakers now?

According to the radio he is a very similar player to Kalou.

This guy was rated higher than C. Ronaldo by some people in Portugal but his career seems to have stagnated at Sporting. This really is a win-win situation for us.

the main questions are, (also should this now be in the player's forum?) who will he replace in the squad? Was this our back up for failing to land Robinho? Does this mean that someone is on their way out, and if so who?

Also, some are saying he's a striker, some are saying he's a winger? Can someone confirm, and even post the customary youtube vid?

I reckon he'll go into the reserves and not play much for the first team. at the end scolari will decide whether it's worth pursuing.

Interesting signing this one, so he is not good enough to make it at Sporting, but good enough to make it at Chelsea :) Since this is only a loan, there arent' much to lose, hopefully he turned out to be decent..

Any chance this is the end of the robinho pursuit?

Any chance this is the end of the robinho pursuit?

Probably. 09-10 preseason it will be the same all over again. Kaka or Robinho, Robinho or Kaka :).

I believe Scolari is a perfect coach bringing out what ever this guy has in him, so I'm confident we will see something good from this Paim.

scolari will probably know quite a bit about this lad, he will know portugese football inside out

so i'm working on the idea tht scolari knows what he's doing

Just found this on another blog...

"I saw Paim last year at the Academia, and he is your prototypical Winger, very, very fast with and without the ball and has amazing footskills.

Needs to work on his crossing, but has a decent shot. His strength is the 1v1 and beating defenders.

His value will rise as he improves his passing and his shot accuracy..."

So certainly sounds like a poor man's Robinho! Or could he be the backdoor buy of the summer?

Edited August 22, 200817 yr by High Street Ken

Our new hero.

Not the most burly. Quite wiry.

The hair will have to go

The hair will have to go

Drogba will probably copy it! ;)

ROCK ON!!!!

He's quick and skilful. So skilful that he would make Nani or Anderson look like Kezman in comparison. As a 17-year old they were comparing him to Messi and Ronaldo. Technically and physically, everything is there to make him one of the best players in the world.

Mentally is a completely different picture. He's a petulant kid. He let the hype go to his head in his teens. He's selfish on the ball, he's arrogant, he's unprofessional and has problems with discipline, and he had fallen out with Sporting's management because of this. You need only compare his progress with that of the rest of his cohort- Nani, Joao Moutinho, Miguel Veloso- to realise how much he has stagnated.

Perhaps if there was one place in the world where he could be destined to turn his career around it is Chelsea. London life will be an immense test of character and discipline. He has a father-figure to guide him in Scolari. And most importantly, when he needs an example of turning a career around he need not look further than his captain, John Terry.

As most people said this is a win-win situation for us. Either he works out and becomes a top-class player, or he falls to the wayside and we don't lose anything. The ball is in his court entirely.

The hair will have to go

Seconded.

Why haven't we confirmed this one-year loan deal yet?

I think same was the case when we signed Bosingwa. Porto had confirmed 9 hours before we did.

The guy seems to have the potential, but I think would spend most of his time in the reseves under the watchful eyes of Scolari. However, I do see him starting a few games along with other young players in against clubs like Stoke City, West Brom etc.

A few subs apps followed by a show in the LC. Then we will see what he is made of.

http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0...1373249,00.html

It`s official!