Chelsea have been handed a massive boost in signing CSKA Moscow midfielder Aleksandr Golovin this summer.
His father revealed his son is currently learning English fuelling speculation over his imminent arrival to the Premier League with the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham reportedly keen for his signature.
“Sasha [Russian variation on Aleksandr] does not even read this news so as not to clog his head during the World Cup,” Golovin Sr told Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda.
“He now has one thing on his mind: the Russian team. But if such proposals are made, I believe that he will go abroad, play abroad.
“There football is of a different level, there is nowhere to hide. Speeds are different. I’m sure my son will be able to play at a new level.
“It will be more difficult with a foreign language. But I know that Sasha has already started learning English.”
The 22-year-old CSKA Moscow star impressed in his country’s 5-0 hammering of Saudi Arabia in the opening match of the World Cup, creating two goals and scoring his side’s fifth with a brilliant free-kick.
Who is Aleksandr Golovin?
A creative midfielder, Golovin was first brought into the CSKA first team by Leonid Slutsky in 2016 as a relative unknown.
Even then, Golovin stood out thanks to his vision, intelligence and quick thinking. His rise was quiet and gradual; he is not a flamboyant person and is not prone to announcing his ambitions publicly. But he worked hard, and a short time later he was a regular in the first team, replacing the experienced Roman Shirokov.
He has been dubbed as the next Iniesta due to his passing abilities and his style of play which is like that of the former Barcelona star.
However, Juventus have reportedly had a £17m bid turned down for the Russian midfielder.