Chelsea and Manchester United are reportedly set to battle it out for Brazilian wonderkid Luis Eduardo.
Eduardo, 17, has been in action at the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar over recent weeks, where Portugal emerged victorious.
The tournament has been the focus for scouts from top clubs across the world and several talented youngsters have shone.
One of those is Eduardo, with the centre back helping Brazil to come fourth, although they lost on penalties in both the semi-final and third place play-off.
And, according to Spanish outlet AS, Eduardo’s performances saw him emerge as one of the standout players at the World Cup.
The 17-year-old, who turns 18 next month, was Brazil’s captain and his traits, which include his incredible speed and tackling ability, have put clubs on alert.
Chelsea and Man United are reportedly set to battle it out for Brazilian wonderkid Luis Eduardo
The 17-year-old Brazilian centre back shone at this month’s Under-17 World Cup in Qatar
The report goes on to add that Premier League rivals Chelsea and United have already entered negotiations over a move for the centre back.
It is believed that an offer for Eduardo, who plays for Brazilian top flight side Gremio, should be forthcoming in the weeks ahead.
Despite his tender age, Eduardo has already made his professional debut for Gremio in a side that includes former Premier League stars Martin Braithwaite and Carlos Vinicius.
He previously impressed in the Copinha, a prestigious Under-20 tournament in Brazil, and in one game he showcased his pace when he was clocked running at 38 kmh (23.6mph).
His performances in that competition saw his stock rise and he was then promoted to first team training at Gremio.
Aware of the talent on their hands, Gremio tied Eduardo down to a new deal earlier this year.
This means the 17-year-old is now under contract until May 2028, and a €60million (£52.7m) release clause was also inserted into his contract.
Chelsea and United are both trying to steal a march on Eduardo and are preparing an offer
Several clubs are keen on Eduardo, but Chelsea and United are attempting to beat off competition by moving sooner before he properly establishes himself in the Gremio first team.
It is common practice for Brazilian clubs to tie their talented youngsters down to professional contracts with high release clauses.
The likes of Vinicius Jnr, Rodrygo and Estevao Willian are among the stars to have moved to major European clubs in their formative years for high fees.
In total, Eduardo, who is over six feet tall, has won 13 caps for Brazil’s Under 17 side, scoring three goals during that time.
