Chelsea have officials “in Brazil” hashing out a deal for Gremio attacking midfielder Gabriel Mec, according to UOL Esporte.
The Brazilian sports news website claims that the two clubs are inching closer to an agreement but there is still some work to do before a transfer fee is accepted.
At the moment, the Blues have offered €7m up front, with another €7m in add-ons. However, Gremio want at least €10m guaranteed, with an additional €10m based on future performances.
That means there is currently a €6m (£5.1m) gap that will have to be bridged before this transfer can go ahead.
Why are Chelsea so keen on snapping up Mec?
The 16-year-old hasn’t even made his senior debut but scouts have identified him as one of the most promising talents coming through Brazil’s youth system.
Mec is playing for Gremio at Under 20 level. He is a playmaker and one of his best attributes is that he is both-footed, which leaves opponents second-guessing his forward runs.
7 players have already been recruited by the Blues this summer
It has been yet another busy summer for the London club in the transfer market, but the additions have been somewhat less high-profile than past windows.
They have brought in the likes of Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer from Fulham, signed Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for £30m from Leicester City, Filip Jorgensen from Villarreal for £20.7m and Renato Veiga for £12m from FC Basel.
A few others, such as Omari Kellyman (from Aston Villa), Marc Guiu (from Barcelona) and Caleb Wiley (from Atlanta United) have been recruited with the future in mind.
Mec would undoubtedly fit into the latter camp. Due to his age, the teenager won’t be able to make the switch to Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2026.
