Chelsea are ‘very close’ to sealing a move for Palmeiras youngster Estevao Willian, often referred to as Messinho, and are ‘prepared to pay’ the youngster’s €60m release clause.
That’s according to Sport, who say the Blues are set to win the race for the 16-year-old and insist Barcelona are not battling for his signature.
The newspaper reports that Barcelona have not made any move to date to sign Estevao, with any information published saying otherwise wide of the mark and ‘part of the speculative field’.
The forwards, who is currently playing int eh Sao Paulo Juniores Cup with Palmeiras under-20 team, would instead be ‘very close’ to Chelsea.
Sport report that they ‘would be prepared’ to pay the youngster’s €60m release clause and won’t face any competition from Barcelona on that front.
That’s because the Blaugrana’s management is absolutely focused on the winter market, bringing forward the arrival of Vitor Roque and doing everything they can so he can be registered this month.
They’re also focused on players who can help improve them immediately and as Estevao can only move to Europe when he comes of age in April 2025, he’s not on the radar, leaving the path free for Chelsea to get him.
