Barcelona have been linked with a move for 16-year-old Palmeiras winger Estevao Willian, a target for Chelsea.
According to a report from Fabrizio Romano on Caught Offside, Barcelona have now decided to walk away from the move to sign Estevao Willian. The decision might hand Chelsea the benefit in the race to sign the 16-year-old Palmeiras prodigy.
“The news that Barca are leaving the race for Estevao Willian aka Messinho isn’t about the club withdrawing,” Fabrizio Romano said to CaughtOffside.
“The player has a release clause for €60m and Barca are not planning to invest that amount of money in that position right now. They already spent big money on Vitor Roque so it’s not a priority to go for Messinho. Chelsea and PSG have been monitoring him for a long time.”
The Brazilian wonderkid has been linked with Chelsea as well, and he is valued at €60 million. Barcelona ruling out a move for the 16-year-old will certainly come as a boost for the Premier League club.
Chelsea have shown a willingness when it comes to investing in young players, and the 16-year-old could develop into an important first-team member for them with the right guidance. He is rated highly in South America and has a big future ahead of him.
Estevao Willian will want to join a big club in the summer, and it remains to be seen where he ends up. The opportunity to play for clubs like Barcelona or Chelsea will be hard to turn down. It would be a major step up in his career, and he will look to showcase his qualities in a top European league.
Estevao Willian would be a future investment
Although the reported €60 million valuation might seem like a premium, the Brazilian is a prodigious talent, and he could justify the investment in the coming seasons. With that said, Chelsea might not be able to spend freely in the summer transfer window.
The Blues will have to comply with Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, and they are spending power will be limited. Chelsea are likely to miss out on European qualification for next season and that will come as a major blow to their revenues. It remains to be seen whether they can afford Estevao Willian in the summer.
In addition, Chelsea will not be able to sign the player before he turns 18 because of the Brexit regulations. Therefore, foreign clubs could have an edge in the transfer race. It will be interesting to see if any other club decide to join the chase for the Brazilian after Barcelona’s decision.
