Arsenal and Chelsea are front runners for Santos full-back JP Chermont, with the Brazilian side now open to selling him below his release clause.
According to Caught Offside, Arsenal and Chelsea might be advanced in their chase for Santos full-back JP Chermont. The Brazilian club could sell him for less than his £58 million release clause, which would suit the English sides, while Real Madrid and Barcelona also hold an interest from the outside.
Premier League clubs have kept a close eye on the progress made by JP Chermont over at Santos, but there are credible reports that the full-back may not stay there for longer. The teenager is already attracting big interest from this side of the Atlantic, and there is a big possibility that Santos will sell him.
The Brazilian side are going through a difficult financial period following their relegation, and would be open to making a few notable sales. Chelsea held an interest in Chermont during the summer, but they were not prepared to pay anywhere close to his £58 million release clause.
However, Santos are now open to selling him well below his £58 million release clause, thus opening the doors for the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal to make their moves. The London giants are closer than any other club to breaking the deadlock with Santos for Chermont. Whether they are genuinely making an effort to sign the talented right-back remains to be seen.
Arsenal, for instance, is looking for talented young stars in the market who are closer to first-team action. They could assess Chermont further as a player and whether he suits their style of play. Chelsea, on the other hand, is always looking to bring talented young stars to their side, and the £58m-rated Brazilian full-back could be another one of those names on their list.
Chelsea and Arsenal ahead in JP Chermont chase
As the report states, Arsenal and Chelsea are well ahead of their rivals in the chase for Chermont. However, depending on how the player’s situation evolves, Real Madrid and Barcelona are also expected to join the race at some stage. Tottenham were also keen ahead of the summer window, but they did not end up signing a replacement for the departed Emerson Royal.
Overall, Santos will know the level of clubs chasing Chermont, and while they need to make a big sale, the departure of the talented teenage right-back will depend on the Brazilian side’s final asking price. That will also be a factor for Arsenal and Chelsea to cement their interest in the player, as they will not be prepared to pay big for someone not proven like Chermont.
