Corinthians wonderkid Gabriel Moscardo has claimed that Chelsea was interested in signing him earlier this summer.
The 18-year-old is one of Brazil’s best young defensive midfielders, and Chelsea attempted to sign him during the previous transfer window. Moscardo was only 17 years old at the time. He was not eligible to join a European team until January, but Chelsea nevertheless attempted to reach an arrangement.
The London giants offered £21.5 million for the youthful phenom, but Corinthians demanded £30 million. Moscardo has now stated that the Blues were interested, but he is presently focused on helping Corinthians complete the league season on a high note.
Fabrizio Romano paraphrased him as saying, “I can confirm that there was interest from Chelsea few months ago, strong interest… but I want to help Corinthians get out of this situation. To tell you the truth, I have very little information, my father knows a few things.”
Outstanding talent
The teenager has only made 22 senior appearances for Corinthians, but his performances have garnered a lot of attention. The defensive midfielder has impressed with his tackling, ball recoveries, and ability to win duels. He also has excellent concentration and rarely loses possession.
It comes as no surprise that Chelsea is interested in signing him. The Blues have a plethora of holding midfielders. This year, they signed Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, and Lesley Ogochukwu. If Moscardo joins the club in the next window, he may not get consistent minutes.
As a result, a rival team has an opportunity to sign him. Liverpool are willing to compete, and they may be able to persuade the teenager to reject Blues offers. Unlike Chelsea, the Merseyside club is in Europe this season, and Moscardo could see more playing time with them.
After selling Fabinho and Jordan Henderson last summer, Liverpool are looking for a quality holding midfielder. Moscardo may not be an immediate solution to their situation, but he may be in the long run. When opposed to Chelsea, he has a much greater chance of establishing himself at Liverpool.