Chelsea are interested in signing Palmeiras midfielder Gabriel Menino, according to UOL Esporte.
The Brazilian news outlet claim Atletico Madrid are also keen on the 20-year-old but, due to Financial Fairplay rules, they would need to sell before making a bid for the player.
Menino has recently spoken out about his future in an interview with a Portuguese newspaper, stating that Atletico, Manchester City and Liverpool would be teams that would suit his style of play:
“I think my football today fits in Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, maybe even Manchester City. They are all teams with very strong players, with a quick touch of the ball, they like to attack and defend as a block”
City, in particular, have been mentioned as a potential destination in recent weeks, but UOL Esporte seem to believe both Atletico and Chelsea are the two main clubs vying for the Brazilian’s signature currently.
Menino has a €60m (£51m) release clause but it is thought that he could be signed for as little as €15m (£13m) due to the fact that Palmeiras’s finances have been badly hit by the global health crisis. We shall see if the Blues make a formal approach in the coming months.