Crystal Palace and Chelsea are reportedly in a race to sign Brazilian teenager Matheus Franca. The highly-rated midfielder, who currently plays for Flamengo, has caught the attention of both clubs. While Chelsea have been actively scouting young talents from South America, Palace have also expressed their interest in Franca.
Chelsea, under the management of Mauricio Pochettino, have been rebuilding their team and have recently signed Andrey Santos. They were believed to be close to finalizing a deal for Franca. However, it has now been revealed that Crystal Palace has also submitted a proposal to Flamengo and are eager to secure the midfielder’s signature. Despite being linked with Franca for a few months, Palace has now made their intentions clear.
Franca is valued at around £22 million and has already made a name for himself with his impressive performances. At just 19 years old, he has scored nine goals in 27 senior appearances and has won both the Copa Libertadores and Copa do Brasil last year. The young talent is said to be keen on joining the Premier League, making him an attractive prospect for both clubs.
While Chelsea may seem like the more prestigious option, Crystal Palace could have the advantage in this race. The Eagles can offer Franca immediate game time at Selhurst Park, whereas Chelsea’s plan would be to loan him out to Strasbourg. This could be a crucial factor in Franca’s decision-making process.
Crystal Palace, under the management of Roy Hodgson, have made only one signing so far this summer – Jefferson Lerma from Bournemouth on a free transfer. The addition of Franca would help fill the void left by talisman Wilfried Zaha, who is currently a free agent and undecided about his future.
For Chelsea, midfield is an area that needs improvement after losing key players such as N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the same summer. Pochettino has been targeting Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, who is eager to move to Stamford Bridge. However, Brighton is demanding over £100 million for their star player, making the pursuit challenging for Chelsea.
In conclusion, the race to sign Matheus Franca is heating up between Crystal Palace and Chelsea. Both clubs are eager to secure the highly-rated Brazilian midfielder, who has already made a name for himself at Flamengo. While Chelsea may have the advantage on paper, Crystal Palace’s ability to offer immediate game time could sway Franca’s decision. It remains to be seen which club will emerge victorious in this transfer battle.