Chelsea join race for wonderkid Keisuke Goto as Blues look to snap up next exciting prospect coming out of Japan after the success of Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma

Chelsea have joined the race for top Japanese prospect Keisuke Goto.

The 18-year-old striker, regarded as the best teenage talent in Japan, plays for Jubilo Iwata and has already attracted attention from West Ham while European clubs such as Ajax, Feyenoord and Sevilla have also registered their interest.

Chelsea have been busy snapping up some of the best young players around the globe and now reports out of Japan say they are taking keen interest in 6ft 3ins Goto.

The teenager would have figured for Japan at the World U20 Championships but picked up an injury just before the tournament started.

However, that hasn't deterred Chelsea who recognise that Goto has the physical attributes and skill to make it in England or at one of their proposed partner clubs.

Goto scored twice on his first team debut in February and has a style similar to England captain Harry Kane in that he likes to drop deep and affect the play before using his pace to get into goal scoring positions.

Japan's performance at the World Cup and the success of players such as Kaoru Mitoma at Brighton have made European clubs take greater notice of the talent emerging from the 'land of the rising sun' and Chelsea's scouts have identified Goto as a definite one for the future.

Last month, Chelsea agreed to sign Santos winger Angelo for £15million ahead of a loan spell in France with Strasbourg.

The Stamford Bridge outfit are believed to have pipped Spanish giants Barcelona to the signature of the teenage sensation.