Premier League club Chelsea have entered talks with Palmeiras for Estevao Willian.
Goal Brasil says the Blues are negotiating with Palmeiras a deal which could reach £34m.
The attacking midfielder, 16, doesn’t turn 18 until April 2025. As such, Estevao cannot move to London for another two years, due to FIFA rules.
Chelsea are seeking to replicate the deal Real Madrid struck with Palmeiras to sign fellow young Brazilian sensation Endrick.
Estevao is also interesting Barcelona.
Fulham midfielder Willian has ruled out playing again in Brazil.
Willian spent a year with Corinthians after leaving Arsenal and was harried and harassed by fans which forced him to return to Europe.
He said, “I will never go back to Brazil to play football there.
“I saw relentless pressure there, which sometimes escalated into violence and threats to family and children. I have to protect my family.”
With Fulham this season, Willian has been outstanding, playing some of the best football of his career.
Brazilian player Willian has revealed Casemiro is delighted to join Manchester United this season.
Willian, speaking to The Times, revealed he recently spoke to the former Real Madrid midfielder.
He said, “I recently spoke with Casemiro, who recently arrived at Manchester United from Real Madrid.
“He called me up and said: ‘The Premier League is amazing.’
“Thiago Silva keeps telling me: ‘If I had known it was like that, I would definitely have come earlier’.”
Former Chelsea star Willian has left Brazilian side Corinthians after claiming he and his family received death threats on social media.
The 34-year-old has scored once in 45 games since rejoining Corinthians from Arsenal last summer.
The Brazil international has already been linked with a return to the Premier League with Fulham.
“Willian asked us for his [contract] termination,” said Corinthians president Duilio Monteiro Alves.
“We are sad not to have him any more and also because it didn’t go the way we expected. But we have to keep those here that are happy.”
Corinthians have lost five of their past nine games, and Willian played in the second leg on Wednesday as the Brazilian side were knocked out of the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals by domestic rivals Flamengo.
“Whenever Corinthians lost and I didn’t play well, my family received threats and insults on social media – my wife, my children, and recently they also started attacking my father, my sister,” Willian told the Globo Esporte website.
Former Chelsea winger, Willian, has named defender, Reece James, as his favourite Blues player under manager, Thomas Tuchel.
Willian, who currently plays for Corinthians, also tipped James for a bright future, adding that he likes the full-back.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel, the former Arsenal star lauded Chelsea academy graduates Callum-Hudson Odoi and Mason Mount but picked out James as his favourite player.
When asked about the players currently at Chelsea he likes to watch, Willian said: “[Callum] Hudson-Odoi, Mason Mount, Reece James.”
When pressed to name a favourite, Willian replied: “Difficult. I think Reece James – I like him.
He added, “He’s a good player. I think he can be one of the best right-backs in the world in years.”
James has established himself as a key player in Tuchel’s squad this season.
Deployed mainly as a wing-back, the 22-year-old has scored an impressive four goals and registered five assists so far this season.
Kia Joorabchian has hit out at Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta over his treatment of Willian.
The influential agent claimed that Willian had been presented with several presentations by Arteta on what his role would be within the team but this did not come to pass last season.
Willian this week terminated his deal, leaving behind £20million. He has now joined Corinthians.
Joorabchian explained on talkSPORT: “Yes, it (the numbers) is true, it’s mostly accurate. I’m not going to reveal numbers exactly, but the reports are pretty much accurate.
“He terminated his contract and he did it willingly, he’s probably one of the first players to do so.
“Previously players, especially at Arsenal, have sat their contracts out, but he wasn’t one of them.”
Willian has left Arsenal after agreeing to terminate the remaining two years of his contract and is set to sign for boyhood club Corinthians.
The 33-year-old signed a three-year deal when he joined on a free transfer from Chelsea last summer. However, he struggled to make an impact at the Emirates, scoring just once in 38 appearances.
After holding talks about his future, the winger has agreed to forego the wages he was owed for the final two years of his contract and become a free agent.
Former Chelsea forward Willian is understood to be keen on a return to Stamford Bridge after just one season at Arsenal.
Last summer Chelsea worked hard to extend the 32-year old’s contract, but were unwilling to offer him a three-year deal, leading to his move to north London as a free agent.
However, after less than a year at the Emirates and with just one goal in 37 appearances, Willian is understood to be keen to consider his options.
A number of clubs in Europe, as well as David Beckham’s MLS side Inter Miami, are working hard to sign the Brazilian.
But Sky Sports News has learnt that a return to Stamford Bridge would be his number one choice.
Willian is contracted at Arsenal until the summer of 2023, but Sky Sports News’ Dharmesh Sheth reported this week that he would likely be allowed to leave early as Arsenal look to free up funds for their transfer targets.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expects Willian to stay at the club beyond this summer.
The Brazilian has been linked with a move to Inter Miami, with reports claiming he is unhappy with the Gunners.
Arteta concedes the 31-year-old did not perform at his best this season, but believes he will stay at the club.
He told reporters ahead of Wednesday’s clash with Crystal Palace: “First of all we signed a player with an incredible talent, a proven talent and performance level in this league, and this season has been difficult and I take full responsibility because I have to be the one getting the best out of him and we had moments but not to the level that he did before.
“This is an assessment that we will do individually with the players and with Edu, the board and the ownership to make the right decisions for the future.
Asked whether he’ll remain at Arsenal, Arteta concluded: “Every player that is under contract is very likely to be here with us next season.”
Arsenal attacker Willian does not believe he has to prove anyone wrong.
The Brazilian arrived at the Gunners from Chelsea on a free transfer in the summer, but has failed to prove his worth so far.
Given his age and the fact he is on a three year contract, Willian has come in for criticism from supporters and the media.
He said, via the Mirror: “No I don’t think that (proving people wrong). In football until you are playing you always have to prove yourself, but personally I don’t have to prove anything to anyone about my career and what I’ve won.
“I just need to prove it for myself and that’s what I want to do.
“I need to prove that for people that like me, my family as well and for people that support me in the difficult moments.
“Of course I want to succeed here and win good things for this club because it’s a great club.”
He added: “For me it’s part of football, it’s normal. When you play well, people will say you are amazing, the best – you’re the best player in the world! [Willian chuckles].
“And when you don’t play well, you are the worst player in the world! This is football. I’ve come into a new philosophy, a new club and I think it has taken time [for me] to adapt.
“I always want to play well, I always want to win, if it’s possible to score to do assists for my team-mates but sometimes you have difficult moments and I’ve been in that difficult moment.
“But in the last few games that I’ve played I think it’s been really different. I have been playing very well, trying to help my team-mates, the team and I hope I can continue like that.”