Chelsea 'nearing £20m deal' to sign 16-year-old Gabriel Mec

Chelsea are reported to be closing in on the signing of 16-year-old Gremio winger Gabriel Mec for around £20m.

The Blues' interest in Mec, who turned 16 in April and has not yet made his senior debut, was revealed earlier this summer as scouts were spotted in the stands alongside Mec's representative, the father of Al Hilal winger Neymar.

After a bid of around £13m was rejected, Chelsea returned with a superior offer and according to Radio Imortal - the source who first reported on the interest in Mec - a deal has been struck to take the teenager to Stamford Bridge in 2026.

The report mentions a fee of over €20m (£17.2m), but Globo Esporte specify Chelsea could pay up to €24m (£20.6m) if all contractual bonuses are triggered.

Mec has agreed a five-year contract with Chelsea which is also said to include the option for a further two years.

A natural left winger who has been compared to both Ronaldinho and Neymar, Mec appears set to become the latest big-money acquisition in Chelsea's quest to snap up the game's best young talents.

Ecuador midfielder Kendry Paez will join in 2025 for a fee of £17m, while the biggest splash came earlier this summer as Chelsea struck a deal to sign right winger Estevao from Palmeiras in a move which could end up being worth over £50m.

Boca Juniors centre-back Aaron Anselmino, 19, is on the cusp of a £15m move which will see him remain in Argentina for the next 12 months, while reports have hinted at a £17m move for Genk goalkeeper Mike Penders.

Chelsea's owners have already spent over £250m on teenage players and will see that fee tick over the £300m mark if moves for Mec, Anselmino and Penders are finalised.

READ THE LATEST CHELSEA NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP