Chelsea are in talks with Palmeiras over a deal to sign 17-year-old winger Estevao Willian.
Chelsea are confident of completing the transfer, which will see Estevao move to the club after turning 18 in April 2025.
The Brazil youth international has a release clause in his contract and Palmeiras are prepared to accept an initial fixed amount of around €30million plus a variable figure of performance based add-ons. His Palmeiras contract runs until 2026.
The Brazil club struck a similar structure of contract with Real Madrid for Endrick in December 2022 as the teenager completed a move to the Bernabeu for an initial €30m plus €25m in bonuses.
Madrid also received positive reports about Estevao but the relationship between chief scout Juni Calafat and the player’s agent Andre Cury made a deal difficult.
Estevao — nicknamed ‘Messinho’ in his native Brazil — made his first-team debut for Palmeiras last season, playing alongside Madrid-bound Endrick.
The teenager has scored once in five Serie A appearances this season, with Palmeiras sixth after taking eight points from their five matches.
He also scored three and assisted three at the Under-17 World Cup last year where Brazil reached the quarter-finals.
Chelsea have a scout based in Brazil who has followed the winger closely, while other club representatives have travelled to Brazil to watch him play and lay the groundwork.
Estevao would become the latest young Brazilian recruited by Chelsea, with compatriots Andrey Santos, Deivid Washington and Angelo all arriving at Stamford Bridge from Serie A in recent years. The trio have been limited in first team opportunities so far, with Andrey Santos and Angelo both spending the 2023-24 season out on loan.
Chelsea are seventh in the Premier League and return to action against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
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Courtesy : https://theathletic.com/5471230/2024/05/07/chelsea-estevao-willian-chelsea-talks/