Vitor Roque is reportedly prepared to overlook bids from Arsenal and Chelsea in the hopes of joining Barcelona this summer.
According to a report by Spanish outlet SPORT, Vitor Roque has his heart set on joining Barcelona in the summer transfer window. And the 18-year-old is ready to snub Arsenal and Chelsea to seal a move to the Catalan club. Meanwhile, the Athletico Paranaense striker is a priority target for the Blaugrana.
Vitor Roque has burst onto the scene since joining Athletico Paranaense from Cruzeiro in April 2022. The Brazilian prodigy did not set the alarm bells ringing during his formative years. But he has come leaps and bounds in the last 15 months, even making his debut for the Selecao earlier this year.
The 18-year-old has started the 2023 season strongly, amassing ten goals and five assists in 25 appearances. And Vitor Roque’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs. Barcelona, Arsenal, and Chelsea are three of his prospective suitors this summer.
The teenage sensation is the priority target for Barcelona heading into the summer transfer window. And while the Blaugrana only signed Robert Lewandowski last year, the Polish striker is well into his thirties. So signing a teenager to learn the ropes from Lewandowski before succeeding him is a sensible decision. And the youngster is keen on joining Barcelona.
The report has claimed that the 18-year-old has his heart set on joining Barcelona. So he is ready to block offers from Arsenal and Chelsea. The two Premier League clubs are looking to one-up each other and Barcelona in the chase for the Brazilian international. And the interest in the player is hardly surprising.
At Arsenal, Vitor Roque can be an upgrade on Gabriel Jesus in the long run, considering his high ceiling. On the other hand, at Chelsea, the teenage wonderkid can end the long-winding search for a striker. But Arsenal and Chelsea are fighting a losing battle to sign him this summer.
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That said, Barcelona’s dire financial situation puts them in a spot of bother in the chase for Vitor Roque’s signature. The Catalan giants are in no position to afford the 18-year-old. So it will be interesting to see if they can raise the required money to snap up their top target ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea.
