Chelsea are leading the race to sign 16-year-old Brazilian attacking sensation Estevao Willian, a target for Barcelona.
According to a report by SPORT, Chelsea are front-runners for the signatures of Estevao Willian. The 16-year-old sensation has attracted a lot of attention, and he is on the radar of some of the biggest clubs in world football. But, the Blues look all set to win the race for his services.
Who is Estevao Willian?
Estevao Willian was a part of the Cruzeiro youth ranks before joining Palmeiras in the summer of 2021. He has since gone from strength to strength and is a part of their under-20 setup. The 16-year-old has shown a lot of promise quite early in his career, and his potential suggests he has what it takes to be a special player.
His impressive performance in the youth circuit and his huge potential have not gone unnoticed. Multiple top clubs from across Europe have him on their radar. Chelsea, Barcelona and PSG have all been linked with the teenage sensation.
Estevao Willian in Demand
However, according to the report, the French club have withdrawn from the race as they are not willing to meet the demands of the Brazilian club. Palmeiras are in no mood to negotiate as they want his €60 million release clause to be paid in full.
Meanwhile, Barcelona remain interested in his services. But they have not made any moves to acquire his services. The Catalan giants are completely focused on the winter transfer window as they look to bolster their squad.
While reports suggest that Barcelona have been in contact with Palmeiras, in reality, they are focused on rebuilding their team in the short run. They have not made any moves for the services of the 16-year-old since he cannot move to Europe until the 2025/26 season.
With the Spanish giants focused on short-term rebuilding, Chelsea have an advantage in the race for the signatures of Willian. The Blues are in the pole position to sign the young forward, who can feature on both flanks as well as an attacking midfield.
The North London club are ready to trigger his €60 million release clause. The Blues have been focused on signing young players with huge potential since the arrival of Todd Boehly, and the 16-year-old is surely a perfect fit for them.
