Almost Done Deal: Club chief confirms talks with United and Chelsea over highly-rated attacking pair
Aug 12, 2016 at 12:28 PM
Santos have held meetings with officials from both Manchester United and Chelsea, the Brazilian club’s president himself revealed.
According to a report from Goal, Santos supremo Modesto Roma met with the two Premier League giants as well as Atletico Madrid this week to discuss potential moves for Thiago Maia and Gabriel Barbosa.
The highly-rated Brazilian duo currently at the Olympic Games representing their country on home soil.
19-year-old Maia has been closely linked with a move to Chelsea in recent weeks, with Santos reportedly prepared to let the defensive midfielder leave for around £17m.
Meanwhile, Barbosa, known as Gabigol, has attracted interest from a number of top European clubs, including the Red Devils and Atletico.
The striker, also 19, has made his desire to secure a move away from Santos public this summer.
“We had productive conversations,” Roma told Goal.
“We didn’t come to buy or sell players, neither in London or Madrid. We came to build up relationships.
“There weren’t offers, but we did talk about partnerships. I talked to Manchester United, Chelsea, and Atletico Madrid.”
Gabriel may not be the most physically imposing of strikers, but what Gabriel lacks in height and strength he makes up for in other ways.
He is technically brilliant, a fine dribbler and a good passer, meaning he is able to play out wide or just off a frontline.
But as he matures, he is becoming more of a natural focal point for the attack, capable of playing on the shoulder of the last man as well as dropping deep to link play.
Conte has already wrapped up deals worth more than £65m for Michy Batshuayi and N’Golo Kante this summer.
But his spending spree is unlikely to end there, with another forward high on his list of priorities.
Meanwhile, Mourinho is still looking for attacking options ahead of the new season as a cover for newly signed Ibrahimovic.