CHERRIES are reportedly on the verge of completing a season-long loan move for Chelsea’s Ghanaian international attacker Christian Atsu, according to Sky Sports.

The 23-year-old signed a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2013 and has spent the past two seasons on loan at Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem and Everton respectively.

Atsu, dubbed the ‘African Messi’, gained Champions League experience during his time with Portuguese giants Porto and started each of his country's matches in the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations over the past year. 

He made just one Premier League start for Everton last season – against Crystal Palace in August – and was largely restricted to a bit-part role in their Europa League campaign. 

But having remained a staple part of Ghana’s plans, he lit up the Africa Cup of Nations 2015 and won player of the tournament as the Black Stars agonisingly lost 9-8 on penalties to Ivory Coast in the final after a 0-0 draw.

Born in Ada Foah on the south-east coast of Ghana in 1992, Atsu played for nearby Cheetah FC before being headhunted by Porto – then managed by Andre Villas Boas – at the age of 18.

Having won youth player of the season at the Estádio do Dragão in 2011, he was loaned out to another top-flight club in Portugal, Rio Ave, where six goals in 30 appearances saw Atsu voted player of the year while helping his temporary side to avoid relegation.

International honours quickly followed with a goal on his debut for Ghana – a 7-0 thumping of Lethoso in a World Cup qualifier – adding to his burgeoning reputation.

His big break at Porto soon followed with 17 league matches for their championship-winning team and eight substitute appearances in the Champions League during 2012-13.

That breakthrough season was punctuated by a trip to his first Africa Cup of Nations in 2013, where he started all but one match en route to a fourth-place finish.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho then swooped to secure Atsu on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee, reported to have been in the region of £3.5million.

Atsu was immediately loaned out to Vitesse Arnhem where he scored five goals in 27 games for a side that challenged for the Dutch title in 2013-14 before falling away during the second half of the season.

He then headed to the World Cup 2014 and started all three group matches against USA, Portugal and Germany before completing his season-long loan move to Premier League rivals Everton on his return to England.