UPDATE: Chelsea is “willing to bid hard” in order to complete a signing. Official dispatched; urgent work required.
Estevão Willian, a teenage player from Palmeiras, has caught the attention of Chelsea, Barcelona, and numerous other elite European teams.
The Blues are all in and have sent an official to Brazil to arrange a contract for the 16-year-old’s move, according to a report published on January 13 by Mundo Deportivo. The La Liga team hasn’t made any efforts for him, it was also reported.
Today’s Mundo Deportivo published a “top secret” rumor that takes a different tack on Barca’s intentions regarding the Chelsea target.
Scouts for the Spanish team have kept a close eye on the winger while he plays for Palmeiras U20s and Brazil U17s. For the latter, he has made an impression, tallying four goals and two assists in five games in La Copinha, a league that draws scouts from elite teams.
According to the source, Chelsea is among the teams eager to recruit the Brazil U17 international and is even “willing to bid hard” for him. In the event that they reach an agreement, Estevão would only be able to visit the club in west London in April 2025, following his 18th birthday.
Barca will compete against Mauricio Pochettino’s team as well as other teams for Estevão. According to Mundo, the Catalan club has the go-ahead from their board and is “determined” to pursue the teenager.
Even though Chelsea is prepared to “bid hard” for Estevão, this would undoubtedly complicate their plan.
Mundo goes on to say that he has ambitions to move to Camp Nou, which will offer Barcelona an advantage over other interested teams.
Chelsea will need to move quickly if Barcelona’s desire is sincere before the tight for funds Catalans discover another lever under the couch.
