Chelsea confident of winning race to sign Palmeiras star Estêvão Willian

Jacob Steinberg
<span>Estêvão Willian takes on Independiente del Valle’s Richard Schunke in the Copa Libertadores.</span><span>Photograph: Cristina Vega Rhor/Reuters</span>
Estêvão Willian takes on Independiente del Valle’s Richard Schunke in the Copa Libertadores.Photograph: Cristina Vega Rhor/Reuters

Chelsea are confident of winning the race to sign the Palmeiras prodigy Estêvão Willian. Talks are continuing over a deal that would take the 17-year-old winger, who is regarded as one of the best youngsters in Brazil, to Stamford Bridge in 2025.

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Palmeiras are holding out for around €30m plus add-ons for Estêvão, whose contract runs until 2026. The attacker, who is nicknamed Messinho, has scored once in five league appearances this season and has also been linked with Arsenal.

Chelsea are determined not to miss out on Estêvão after seeing Real Madrid pip them to the signing of another Brazilian star, Endrick, from Palmeiras. Endrick, 17, scored Brazil’s winner against England in March.

Chelsea have shopped extensively in Brazil for young talent in the past two years, signing Andrey Santos, Deivid Washington and Angelo. There is also excitement about them signing the gifted Ecuador teenager Kendry Páez. Chelsea have focused heavily on youth in the transfer market.

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