Chelsea reportedly lead the race to sign Palmeiras prodigy Estevao Willian, a target for Barcelona and Manchester United.
A report from Fichajes claims that Chelsea are the front-runners to sign Estevao Willian. The West London club will face competition from Barcelona and Manchester United for the Brazilian wonderkid.
The 16-year-old is regarded as one of the finest young talents in South America right now, and he should prove to be a quality acquisition for Chelsea if they can get the deal done. Recent reports have claimed that the West Londoners have established contact over a move.
The Blues have shown a willingness to invest in talented young players, and the Brazilian would be a future investment for them. He could develop into an important first-team player with the right guidance.
Barcelona are keen on the player as well, but they could struggle to compete with the Premier League clubs financially. They are going through financial limitations right now, and Chelsea certainly have the resources to beat them to the signature of the winger.
Manchester United willing to pay big money
Manchester United’s interest could be problematic for Barcelona and Chelsea. The Red Devils are reportedly willing to submit an offer of around €90 million for the Brazilian wonderkid, and Chelsea might not be able to compete with that.
The Blues will have to sell some players in the summer to fund their transfer business. They are in danger of breaching the financial regulations, and they will not want to face a punishment for overspending.
Estevao will hope to join a big club in the coming months, and the opportunity to join clubs like Chelsea, Barcelona or Manchester United will be quite attractive. Regular football in England could accelerate his development and it remains to be seen where he ends up. Whoever signs the talented young winger will have a future star on their hands.
Meanwhile, €90 million would be a massive price to pay for a 16-year-old who is unproven at the highest level. It seems that Manchester United are willing to bet on his potential. It will be interesting to see if you can justify that investment in the coming years, if the transfer goes through.