(Football news) Chelsea have apparently not finished replenishing the youth pipeline this summer, as they have submitted a €15 million bid to Santos for 18-year-old forward Deivid Washington (with €5 million in potential add-ons). 

Chelsea already spent £40 million this summer to sign Deivid’s teammate Angelo Gabriel, as well as fellow teenagers Diego Moreira, Lesley Ugochukwu, Dujuan Richards, Alex Matos, and Ishé Samuels-Smith (the first two joining Angelo on the USA Tour, the rest joining the Development Squad).

Deivid Washington only recently broke into the Santos first team and scored in both of his first two starts. The contract he signed in April includes a €30 million release clause, but it appears like we may be able to get it done for half that amount. 

Atlético Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, AS Roma, and AS Monaco are (or were) all interested, and if Deivid does join Chelsea, he will most likely be on loan. Santos is now set to accept Chelsea’s €20 million (£17 million) offer.

Deivid is still very inexperienced at first-team level, having made only 16 appearances for Santos since making his senior debut. As a result, we like the concept of him joining Chelsea and then being loaned out someplace in Europe. Strasbourg, part of Chelsea’s multi-club concept, has been listed as the Brazilian youngster’s most likely destination for the upcoming 2023/24 season.

Deivid Washington has a contract with Santos through April 2026. On May 10, this year, he scored his first senior goal in a 3-0 home win over Bahia in the Brazilian top division. However, Chelsea’s move coincides with the injury of key summer recruit Christopher Nkunku The £52 million France attacker hobbled off in a 1-1 warm-up game against Borussia Dortmund on Thursday.

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