Palmeiras starlet Gabriel Menino recently made the headlines for playing his part in the club’s second Copa Libertadores title victory over Santos. Menino shone the most during the recent tournament when the Brazilian club took River Plate apart in the semi-finals.
He is an enigmatic midfielder who shines bright while operating in the center-half of the pitch, acting as a holding midfielder. His versatility allows him to also play in the full-back position, often appearing in the right-back position for Palmeiras.
According to reports from Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Chelsea are leading the race to sign the versatile midfielder and are joined by European heavyweights Juventus, Tottenham Hotspur & Atletico Madrid.
He has a release clause in the range of €60m and due to Palmeiras facing a pandemic financial crunch, anything in the range of €20m will be hard to turn down. The club will be willing to take a third of the asking price, given the current situation.
Chelsea have reportedly submitted an initial offer of €14m but it remains to be seen how things pan out taking into consideration Thomas Tuchel’s requirements in the midfield position
The Blues already possess Jorginho, Kovacic and Kante – but Menino’s versatility will serve as a delicious factor in the decision making process.
He has previously made his interest known by speaking of his dream of playing for Barcelona, but a move first to Stamford Bridge will definitely be a stepping stone in promising-looking career.