Premier League heavyweights Chelsea are reportedly still interested in signing 20-year-old Paris Saint-Germain defender Lucas Beraldo.
According to a report by Simon Phillips on his Substack channel, Lucas Beraldo remains the subject of interest from Chelsea. The Blues were keen on signing the Brazilian defender before he joined Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window this year. However, they have continued tracking his progress at the Ligue 1 club in the last few months.
The rise of Lucas Beraldo
Lucas Beraldo is the latest Brazilian prospect to establish a foothold in the first-team squad of a high-profile club in Europe. The past decade has seen many promising youngsters blossom into world-class players, with Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Bruno Guimaraes some of those stars.
A native of Piracicaba, Beraldo spent his formative years in Brazil and graduated from the youth division at Sao Paulo FC. The 20-year-old rose in prominence during his spell with the club before PSG came calling earlier this year, sealing a deal worth €20 million to secure his services.
The Brazilian defender has turned out 30 times thus far for PSG while chipping in with two goals. Meanwhile, Lucas Beraldo’s progress at the Ligue 1 club has helped him break into his national side, making three appearances for Brazil. In addition, his exploits have not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe, including Chelsea.
London calling?
Chelsea’s interest in Lucas Beraldo is understandable. While the Blues have invested heavily in centre-backs in the last few years, Benoit Badiashile faces an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge after failing to establish a foothold in the first-team squad at the West London club.
So, Chelsea might dip into the market for a centre-back in one of the two transfer windows next year, with Beraldo emerging as a viable target. However, prising the 20-year-old South American defensive prospect away from PSG might be a tall order, considering the Ligue 1 champions only signed him earlier this year.
In addition, Les Parisiens will feel they have a long-term central defensive solution after landing Beraldo earlier this year. So, Chelsea might struggle to convince the Brazilian international to part ways with PSG next year.
