Chelsea raises their bid for Brazilian talent Pedro Lima amidst their rival’s interest. The Blues are in discussions to secure the signing of Pedro Lima, a highly-regarded 17-year-old right-back from Sport Club do Recife. Negotiations are ongoing, with Chelsea willing to increase their offer to meet Lima’s release clause.
Club president Yuri Romao visited the UK this week to discuss the potential transfer with Chelsea, offering a guaranteed fee of £5 million plus £1.7 million in bonuses.
Given that Lima does not yet qualify for a UK work permit, Chelsea has proposed that the young player begin his European career at RC Strasbourg, a French club also owned by Chelsea’s parent company, BlueCo.
This move would help the club navigate UEFA Financial Fair Play and Premier League Profit and Sustainability regulations. However, Sport Club do Recife is holding out for the full release clause of £10.1 million and has not yet agreed to the sale.
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Manchester City is also interested in Lima and would place him in one of their City Football Group’s European clubs. Additionally, clubs from Italy and Spain are monitoring the situation. Lima is known for his speed and ability to attack opponents one-on-one, drawing comparisons to former Brazil captain Cafu.
He played in all five matches for Brazil’s Under-17 team at the World Cup in Indonesia last October and was recently called up to the Under-20 squad.
Promoted to Sport’s first team in January, Lima has been a key player in Brazil’s Serie B, winning the Campeonato Pernambucano in April. He has also secured a contract extension with Sport until 2027.
Chelsea’s interest in young talent from South America aligns with their recent strategy under the ownership of Clearlake Capital, which has seen the acquisition of players like Deivid Washington, Angelo Gabriel, and Andrey Santos from Brazil.
Both Gabriel and Santos spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Strasbourg, making 21 and 11 Ligue 1 appearances respectively. This development pathway is part of Chelsea’s broader plan to nurture and integrate young talents into European football.
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The ongoing negotiations reflect Chelsea’s commitment to building a squad of promising young players, despite financial constraints and regulatory challenges. The club’s efforts to sign Lima demonstrate their focus on future potential and long-term success.
As discussions continue, Chelsea aims to finalize the transfer while ensuring compliance with financial regulations and strategic player development.
