Crystal Palace ‘join Chelsea in the race to sign Flamengo midfielder Matheus Franca’

Crystal Palace have joined Chelsea in the race to sign Flamengo’s highly-rated midfielder Matheus Franca, according to reports. 

Mail Sport revealed on Monday that the Blues were close to finalising a deal for the 19-year-old talent, as they look to bolster their midfield options this summer. 

The Brazilian is said to be ‘keen to join the Premier League’ and his pressing desire to play in England has put a number of clubs on high alert.

According to Globo, the Eagles have also ‘made proposals’ for the Flamengo star who is valued at around £22 million.

They also report he ‘wants to join’ the Premier League but may not get the chance immediately at Stamford Bridge and so could favour a move to Selhurst Park.

The Eagles are looking to hijack Mauricio Pochettino’s move for the highly-rated youngster 

Should Mauricio Pochettino’s land the youngster, the Blues are expected to loan Franca out to Strasbourg – a club they bought a majority stake in last month, rather than putting him straight into the first team. 

Mail Sport reported at the start of the month that the Blues were looking to launch a £25million bid for the highly-rated talent. 

Franca enjoyed something of a breakthrough year in 2022, scoring six goals in 24 games across all competitions as his Flamengo side won the Copa Libertadores and Copa do Brasil.

He has struggled to match those performances this season and scored just once in nine Serie A appearances, but the Brazil Under 20 star remains one of the highest rated young players in his home country.

Franca would have a better chance of regular football at Selhurst Park next season given the uncertainty surrounding Wilfried Zaha’s future.

While he is clearly a talented and exciting young midfielder, the 19-year-old would not be able to fill in at number nine for Chelsea, the most obvious hole in their current squad.

They have made contact with Juventus over Dusan Vlahovic and Pochettino has not ruled out the idea of Romelu Lukaku returning to the side, but the Blues are currently without a clear first-choice striker.

Doubts over Wilfried Zaha’s future at Selhurst Park could open up a starting birth for Franca

There have, however, been exciting additions this summer in wide areas and at number 10.

In June, Chelsea confirmed the signing of Christopher Nkunku for a £53m fee from RB Leipzig on the back of 58 goals in the last two seasons. 

Right at the end of the month, they unveiled Nicolas Jackson as their next forward addition on a £32m deal from Villarreal. 

The 22-year-old scored nine goals in his last eight games of the 2022/23 season.