Pedro Lima transfer update emerges as Chelsea work on Enzo Maresca second transfer

Chelsea are working to get a deal over the line for Sport Recife teenager Pedro Lima as the club look set to continue heavy investment in wonderkid from South America. Since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital completed their takeover of the club in 2022, they have placed emphasis on recruiting youngsters for the future.

Angelo Gabriel, Andrey Santos, Deivid Washington have all joined Chelsea from Brazil while Kendry Paez will join next summer. Recent reports have claimed that the Blues are in ‘advanced negotiations’ for the 17-year-old. According to Brazilian sports outlet Globo Esporte, Chelsea are claimed to have already made two bids, one of which is said to have been of £5million (€6m) plus add-ons. However, since that bid is said to have been rejected, Chelsea have put in another offer of £6m (€7m), with the possibility of it reaching €8m (€10m).

However, Recife are unlikely to accept that fee given that Lima has a £10m (€12m) clause inserted in his contract for negotiations with international clubs. With that said, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Liverpool are reported to have made enquiries over the right-back. Recife sporting director Joao Marcelo Barros gave an update on the negotiations with Chelsea, telling Globo Esporte:

“The stage of negotiation is now a guarantee that a deal will be done. “Although negotiations are advanced, the deal may not be completed due to some barriers that need to be overcome. We can reach an agreement soon but there are still some issues that need to be resolved, and that is not in our control.”

Meanwhile, his agent Renato Guimaraes added: “There has been progress in the negotiations, but it’s not over yet. The salary part is settled, but there are still some clauses to be defined in the contract, some bonuses.”

If a transfer was to materialise, it would be the club’s biggest ever sale in history. Chelsea have already confirmed the signing of Tosin Adarabioyo from Fulham on a four-year contract. The defender completed a medical earlier this month.