Chelsea must shut down Liverpool transfer talk as Estevao is given fresh reason to stay

Liverpool's reported interest in Estevao should be a warning to Chelsea that they cannot afford to waste one of their brightest young talents. The big clubs come circling when the opportunities are less at their current club.

Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey has urged his old club to make a move for the Brazilian, describing him as a "great signing" for Adoni Iraola's side. The 19-year-old has reportedly caught the eye despite struggling to secure regular opportunities under Xabi Alonso at Stamford Bridge.

Heskey believes Estevao could provide Liverpool with qualities they have struggled to replace since Mohamed Salah's departure, particularly his direct running, ability to beat defenders and desire to drive towards goal. Those attributes were all on display during Chelsea's victory over Manchester United, where the Brazilian was one of the Blues' brightest performers.

He also suggested that the youngster would welcome the opportunity to play more regularly, however that looks likely to change with Alonso trusting the Brazilian and now recognising his physical attributes.

There is certainly an argument that Liverpool could benefit from a player with those qualities, but Chelsea should have absolutely no interest in entertaining such a proposal. That is especially true when considering they would be strengthening a direct rival, one with whom their rivalry has intensified following numerous heated clashes over the past two decades.

The biggest concern for Chelsea is that there is some justification behind the speculation. Estevao has managed just 134 minutes of Premier League football this season, an incredibly small return for a player who arrived with such enormous expectations. At 19, he needs opportunities to develop, and spending so much time watching from the sidelines is hardly ideal.

However, his performance against Manchester United showed exactly why Chelsea must be patient with him. Making his first Premier League start of the campaign, the Brazilian was one of the most exciting players on the pitch. His willingness to take defenders on, create chances and constantly threaten the opposition made him a nightmare to contain.

There is also reason to believe his opportunities will improve. With Joao Pedro currently sidelined through injury, Estevao has a chance to establish himself further in Alonso's attacking plans. Even when the Brazilian forward returns, the youngster deserves to remain part of the conversation rather than being pushed back to the fringes.

Alonso has already dismissed suggestions of a January loan departure, insisting there have been no discussions about such a move while praising Estevao's attitude in training.

It was a reminder that Chelsea have a special talent on their hands, and selling him to a direct rival would be a disastrous decision, especially one that will hinder Chelsea getting back to the best