Chelsea owners BlueCo dey reason whether dem go table bid for one 19-year-old left-back wey dem dey hail as the “new Marcelo”, but AC Milan don already move ahead for the chase.
The Blues still dey inside serious confusion as dem dey try settle managerial wahala after Enzo Maresca suddenly comot for him job on New Year’s Day, following breakdown between am and the club board.
Maresca waka comot just two days after Chelsea play 2-2 draw with Bournemouth for Premier League, and barely three days before big clash with Manchester City wey go happen on Sunday.
Report talk say the Italian coach get eye for future move to Manchester City if Pep Guardiola comot in 2026. For now, Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior dey seen as the main candidate to take over at Stamford Bridge.
As things stand, Chelsea Under-21 coach Calum McFarlane go dey handle first-team training ahead of the City match, and all this dey happen just as January transfer window don open.
Chelsea Owners Dey Reason Bid for “New Marcelo”
According to reports, part of the problem between Maresca and BlueCo na disagreement over transfers, as the coach want more say for who dey come in and who dey leave, but the board no gree shift ground.
Even with the coaching uncertainty, Chelsea never slow down their plan to hunt top young talents. Spanish outlet AS report say BlueCo dey consider whether dem go bid for Santos left-back Souza.
The 19-year-old defender don already dey compared with Real Madrid legend Marcelo, wey win 25 trophies and dey widely regarded as one of the best left-backs football don ever see.
Plan be say if Chelsea sign Souza, dem go first place am with sister club Strasbourg before possible move to Stamford Bridge later. But Chelsea dey behind at the moment, as AC Milan don already submit offer of about £8.7m.
Santos, however, dey demand closer to £10.5m before dem go even consider selling, and dem no really get mind to release the player this January.
Barcelona, Bayern Munich and some Saudi clubs don also make enquiries, but right now, AC Milan dey pole position to land the youngster. Souza current contract with Santos go run till December 31, 2028.
Who Be This “Next Marcelo” Souza?
Souza na full product of Santos academy and officially join the senior team in 2024. Since then, he don make 38 first-team appearances, scoring one goal and providing four assists.
After serious ankle injury earlier, the 2024-25 season turn breakthrough year for the teenager, as he start 19 league games for Santos and gain serious attention both locally and internationally.
On international level, Souza be key member of the Brazil team wey win the 2023 Under-17 South American Championship, and later help dem reach the quarter-final of the Under-17 World Cup.
