Chelsea have £32.3m Lucas Moura bid rejected but remain favourites to sign Sao Paulo starlet

The Blues have had their big-money offer snubbed but remain at the front of the queue for the Brazil international's signature ahead of European rivals Inter and Real Madrid

Chelsea have had a €40 million (£32.3m) bid for Sao Paulo starlet Lucas Moura rejected, but remain favourites to sign him, according to the Brazilian club’s president.

The highly-rated 19-year-old has already made 11 appearances for Brazil, scoring once, and is also a summer transfer target for Inter and Real Madrid.

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Speaking to FCINTER1908, Juvenal Juvencio confirmed that he had turned down the mammoth offer from Chelsea.

"[We did not accept it] but obviously, at the moment, Chelsea are the closest team to Lucas," he declared.

"Inter made an offer of £20.2m, but this was not considered sufficient by us.

"Real Madrid is one of these [interested clubs] - there have been contacts with the president Florentino Perez, who admires the player.

"Lucas is a big player who will triumph in Europe, but Sao Paulo will only sell him for an enormous offer."