Chelsea and Arsenal have joined the race for Athletico Paranaense and Brazil international wonderkid Vitor Roque.
According to SPORT, the London giants have made contact with the youngster’s entourage ahead of a potential summer transfer.
Roque is the latest gem the Brazilian market has on offer, and the sensational 18-year-old is turning the heads of several European heavyweights who are readying their chequebooks for a summer bid.
The former Cruzeiro man has made a name for himself in the Brazilian top flight notching five goals and two assists while starting 14 of his 29 league appearances for his club side.
The youngster also dazzled in the Under-20 CONMEBOL Championship, notching six goals and an assist in eight games as the Brazilian youth team raced to the title.
His outstanding performances earned him a first call-up to the senior team under interim manager Ramon Menezes, making his debut as a 65th-minute substitute in the 2-1 friendly defeat to Morocco.
Roque is also attracting interest from Serie A champions AC Milan and Spanish league leaders Barcelona who have made the Brazilian prodigy a priority target for next season.
While Roque has also revealed a desire to play under the spotlights of the revered Spotify Camp Nou, the Catalan giants will find it difficult to fund a move for the youngster owing to their struggles with Financial Fair Play regulations.
Milan could also struggle to generate funds to prise Roque away from the Brazilian side, leaving Chelsea and Arsenal home free in the race for his signature.
The Blues are looking for a long-term solution to their striking problems with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has fallen out with the club, now a Barca target, and Romelu Lukaku’s future up in the air.
Chelsea and Arsenal believe Roque has the right profile to succeed in the Premier League and are set to slug it out for Brazil’s next big thing.
