A generational talent? Historic? However Kendry Paez is dubbed, across South America it's acknowledged Chelsea have landed themselves a gem. But whether that potential can be realised in London is another question altogether...

First, let's dive into the hype. Hype that we must say is worthy of a just turned 16 year-old. Paez is now turning it on for Ecuador at the U20 World Cup. Already a first teamer with Independiente del Valle. Already a senior goalscorer. And all achieved at 15 years of age. Paez is simply confirming himself in Argentina. At least that's for those inside South American football. From Ecuador, to Argentina, to Brazil, they've been talking about this young lad from Guayaquil for years.

He'll be better than Neymar. Can even be better than Messi. As we say, that's the hype. Former Ecuador striker Carlos Tenorio, a veteran of two World Cups, has said as much. Now a popular pundit at home, Tenorio, like so many of his peers, have studied the progress of Paez and is convinced the kid could be a one-off.

“We cannot say that he looks like Messi. Kendry Páez is Ecuadorian and that already has to make us happy. He has everything to be better than Leo Messi, better than Neymar, but it depends on him and those of us around him," said Tenorio earlier this year.

“He is 15 years old and it is not easy to see a player of that age with that character, with that personality. These players are not born every day and comparing them is difficult, because tomorrow we put pressure on them, when we have to take it off."

However, even with that warning, the potential Tenorio sees in Paez is something he cannot deny: “In the time that I have been in football, it is the first time that I have managed to see a player with these characteristics. I think he has everything to become one of the leading players in world football."

Tenorio is no Robinson Crusoe. Indeed, Ecuadorian football is united in their opinion of Paez. As the kid, remember having just turned 16, is tearing things up at the U20 World Cup, Ecuador's coach Felix Sanchez Bas has opened the door to a senior call.

With friendlies fixed next month against Costa Rica and Bolivia, Sanchez Bas sees the opportunity to involve the attacking midfielder.

“With the U17s he had a great tournament. They competed against all the teams face to face. Obviously, looking to the future, that is a good sign for the country," said the Spaniard, a former coach at Barcelona's La Masia academy. "There are boys who mature earlier, others have a little more trouble and must go through the process more slowly. There are others who pass faster and can join (the senior team) very young. If in the case of Kendry we think that he is prepared and can contribute to the national team, obviously he will be involved."

Just three weeks ago, Paez was still 15 years of age. Yet, we now have confirmation from the national team coach that he'll be selected. Again, the hype around this kid is real.

But what about his peers? Not the academy generation, but those he now faces in Ecuador's Serie A? Well, just like the pundits. Just like Sanchez Bas. Senior pros up and down the country know they're sharing the pitch with something special.

"That kid Kendry Paez is a crack," said LDU Quito and Ecuador international midfielder Andres Chicaiza, "We have to enjoy him because boys like that are born every 50 years."

So Chelsea have something here. A potential world-beater. The Blues nicking ahead of Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund to land the teen for a fee rising to €20m.

“Today, I can say that Kendry Paez, in two years' time, will go to Chelsea," declared Independiente del Valle director Santiago Morales a week ago.

“We received offers from Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United, Chelsea were the team that showed the most interest."

The Brighton connection at Chelsea was a clear advantage in this scramble. Paul Winstanley, now Chelsea's co-sporting director, tapping the same network as Brighton did to land Moises Caicedo from Independiente two years ago. Interestingly, United were also in for Caicedo at the time, but found the labyrinth of middle men too difficult to navigate.

But for Winstanley and his staff, the hard work is only just beginning. As we've argued in past columns, signing young South American talent for a club of Brighton's demands is very different to the expectations of Chelsea. And there's very little evidence of such young players fulfilling their talent when signing for a Premier League club of Champions League status.

Indeed, we'd question whether Winstanley and Lawrence Stewart have structures in place to deal with the likes of Paez and the incoming Andre Santos. It's no knock on the pair, but given their overloaded inbox this summer, will they even have the opportunity to put in a system that caters for such South American talent?

What we can say is the family will do everything they can to make it work. And this could include bringing forward Kendry's arrival. Mum Jessica stating: "We are going to make the attempt to see if you can go before the age of 18 to the England team. If that happens, we will go to live with Kendry in London."

As for the player himself. Those who've worked with him insist Paez's personality and attitude have been key in the ease with which he's moved up each level. His Ecuador U17 coach Diego Martinez stating: "He is a great kid, extraordinary. He is very cheerful. He loves to train, play, compete. He is very intelligent and I think he was an impressive leader on and off the pitch.

"He is empathetic, generous and we are very happy with him. It is a pride to see the path he is following..."

Martinez echoing the thoughts of all of Ecuadorian football. For their sake, let's hope Chelsea can live up to their end of this potential bargain.