Fulham are reportedly interested in a move for 20-year-old Brazilian midfielder Pablo Maia who will be out of contract next year.
According to a report from goal.com, Fulham are currently monitoring Pablo Maia. But the 20-year-old Brazilian midfielder is highly rated by Rogerio Ceni, and Sao Paulo will look to extend his contract soon.
It is understandable why the Brazilian giants are so keen on holding on to Maia beyond his current contract. Despite his tender age, the 20-year-old has already established himself as a key player for Sao Paulo, making 63 appearances over the course of the season. He has managed to score three goals and pick up an assist in that time as well.
The report further adds that Fulham have been monitoring the player closely. But they are yet to come forward with a concrete offer.
The 20-year-old is immensely talented, and he could prove to be a quality long-term addition to Fulham. It remains to be seen whether the Cottagers are prepared to come forward with a lucrative offer in the coming weeks.
Maia can operate as a central midfielder as well as a defensive midfielder. Furthermore, he is defensively disciplined enough to operate as a centre-back from time to time as well. His versatility could be an added bonus for Fulham if they manage to secure his services.
However, a move to the London club in the coming months will be quite surprising because the 20-year-old needs regular game time to continue his development and fulfil his potential. The Brazilian midfielder is unlikely to be handed a start in the Premier League straightaway. And sitting on the bench at Fulham could affect his development negatively.
Alternatively, Fulham could look to sign the 20-year-old and loan him back to Sao Paulo for the foreseeable future so that he can continue his growth with regular first-team football at the Brazilian club. But it remains to be seen whether Sao Paulo can agree on a new deal with the youngster over the next few weeks.
They will not want to lose a player of his potential on a free transfer and therefore agreeing on a contract extension with Maia should be the top priority for them. Meanwhile, Maia is not the only Sao Paulo player on Fulham’s radar, with fellow 20-year-old Luizao also emerging as a target.
