Chelsea close in on another Brazilian teenager! Blues reach agreement with Gabriel Mec and open €20m talks with Gremio over Man Utd and Borussia Dortmund target

The Blues have vigorously pursued the rich pool of South American football talent since they were acquired by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital in 2022. And according to Fabrizio Romano the Premier League club are actively advancing negotiations with Gremio for Mec.

Born in 2008, Mec has expressed his eagerness to join Chelsea. This has encouraged the club to enter into serious negotiations and thrash out a deal with Gremio. Meanwhile, Brazilian media outlet Radio Bandeirantes has reported that Chelsea are preparing a €20 million (£17m/$22m) bid for Mec, structured as €7m (£5.92m/$7.5m) upfront with an additional €13m (£11m/$14m) in performance-related add-ons. There is also speculation that Gremio might retain a 15 per cent stake in Mec's future transfer rights.

Whereas, UOL reported that Chelsea have dispatched representatives to Brazil to expedite the negotiations. The current offer on the table from Chelsea stands at €7m plus €7m in add-ons, but Gremio is holding out for a higher fixed sum of €10m (£8m/$11m) with an additional €10m in potential add-ons.

Mec, despite not having made his first-team debut for Gremio, has already made a mark in the Brazilian Under-20 Championship, with six appearances and one goal to his name. His potential has attracted attention not only from Chelsea but also from other European giants like Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund, who are monitoring the situation closely and could potentially enter the fray.

Should Chelsea successfully secure Mec's signature, the young midfielder will not be able to join the club until he turns 18, in line with international transfer regulations for minors. This mirrors the pathway taken by other South American talents like Kendry Paez and Estevao, who have agreed to moves but will only link up with their respective clubs upon reaching the eligible age.