Chelsea starlet Charlie Brown seen as next Sancho by Europe’s best after Blues fought off Man Utd and Arsenal

THE name Charlie Brown is on the lips of top European scouts.

They are not talking about the famous comic-strip character but are wondering how Chelsea picked him up for Peanuts.

Charlie Brown has caught the attention of Europe's best with his goals in the UEFA Youth League — Charlie Brown has caught the attention of Europe’s best with his goals in the UEFA Youth League

Brown, 19, is top scorer in the UEFA Youth League this season and by some distance with his 11 goals. His nearest rivals in the goalscoring charts have six each.

His academy team-mate Callum Hudson-Odoi has got plenty of headlines after being targeted by Bayern Munich but he is not the only youngster at Stamford Bridge who has clubs across Europe taking note.

Brown has caught the eye as a left-footed No9 but also technically gifted, which is the type of player clubs moan about there not being enough of.

PORT OF CALL

The Ipswich-born striker started at the Portman Road Academy before getting spotted by Chelsea and moving in almost three years ago, with Manchester United, Arsenal and West Ham also monitoring him at the time.

He has not been called up to England youth teams during the current international break but has quietly become the prospect that scouts are getting excited about when watching Chelsea’s youngsters.

Averaging a goal every 47 minutes against Europe’s best youth teams has boosted hopes he will make the step up to senior football soon.

His form has been enough for Chelsea to hand him a new contract last October, which keeps him at the club for another two seasons.

Brown, second right, with Ashley Cole, Joe Cole, Jody Morris and John Terry at Blues' training base — Brown, second right, with Ashley Cole, Joe Cole, Jody Morris and John Terry at Blues’ training base

NEXT SANCHO

That has not stopped foreign clubs looking at him as the next British youngster to break away from the Premier League like Jadon Sancho at Borussia Dortmund.

For the time being, Chelsea should get more time to weigh up whether he can break into their first team eventually.

The Under-19s have their UEFA Youth League quarter-final against Dinamo Zagreb next month, then Chelsea are expected to receive offers in taking the young striker on loan next season.

Chelsea getting slapped with a transfer ban could complicate the situation for Brown and other talented youngsters at the club. But he appears ready to seize his chance if it arises.

His younger brother Zak is currently at the Ipswich Academy – so the Brown name is one to remember.