Chelsea have made positive progress in their pursuit of 17-year-old starlet Pedro Lima, the player's agent has confirmed.
The West Londoners have recently been linked with a move for the Sport Recife right-back and the club president of the South American outfit revealed last month that talks have been held with several interested suitors.
"There are many clubs interested," Recife chief Marcelo Barros told Globo Esporte's podcast Embolada. "Pedro and I have been talking to more than one club. But there are slightly more advanced negotiations with one of them.
"We're making a very careful assessment. I don't see a club in Brazil that would make the investment we want for Pedro, and it's not in the athlete's interest either. So we're not too worried. And there are different offers."
Both Manchester City and Liverpool have been credited with an interest in Lima, but the one club that has been "slightly more advanced" in negotiations with Recife is Chelsea.
Lima's agent Renato Guimaraes has now confirmed that his client could soon become the latest young prospect to be heading to Stamford Bridge.
© Reuters
Speaking to Globo Esporte, as quoted by the Evening Standard, Guimaraes said: "There has been progress in the negotiations (with Chelsea), 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."
As well as making big-money statement signings since the arrival of co-owner Todd Boehly, Chelsea have also delved into the transfer market to sign a number of highly-rated youngsters and have already completed deals for South American stars including Andrey Santos, Deivid Washington, Angelo Gabriel and Kendry Paez.
The Blues are also believed to be closing in on the signing of Palmeiras prodigy Estevao Willian, as a deal worth an initial £29.5m, that could rise to £51m, has been agreed between the two clubs.
Lima is seemingly the next to arrive in West London having excelled for Sport Recife since making his professional debut in January of this year.
The teenager has quickly become a first-team regular, operating as either a right-back or right wing-back, and has contributed two goals and two assists in 26 appearances across all competitions.
Enzo Maresca's side, who have already signed Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer, would presumably look to use their connection with Strasbourg and send Lima on loan to the French club before integrating the defender into their first-team plans in the future.
Oliver Thomas
