Estevao responds to Chelsea links as Bayern Munich 'ready rival bid'

Palmeiras winger Estevao Willian has insisted he remains fully focused on his current club amid interest from both Chelsea and Bayern Munich.

Chelsea are in talks over a blockbuster deal to land the 17-year-old, who is more commonly known by the 'Messinho' nickname he has publicly urged fans to stop using, and are reported to be confident of getting a deal done.

It was recently claimed that Chelsea have agreed personal terms with Estevao, who acknowledged talks on his future are ongoing after Palmeiras' 5-0 win over Liverpool Montevideo.

"My head is 100% focused on Palmeiras," he told Paramount+. "I don't think about that, I think about how I'm going to do my best on the field today and help Palmeiras achieve their goals.

"This remains in the background and I try to do my best on the field to bring joy to the Palmeiras fans."

Chelsea are expected to lodge a bid worth an initial £30m, with a further £21.5m in add-ons, as they prepare to exceed his £38m release clause with a structure that would allow them to spread the payments out over a number of years.

However, Chelsea may have to fend off rival interest from Bayern Munich as Goal Brasil state the German giants have joined the race for Estevao's signature.

Bayern are said to be readying a bid which would exceed Chelsea's proposed final fee as they seek to start a squad rebuild following a frustrating campaign which will end without silverware for the first time in 12 years.

The report also names Arsenal, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain as potential suitors, although none of those four teams have made any formal contact at this point.

Estevao has publicly confessed he dreams of joining Barcelona, but the La Liga giants do not have the money to pursue the 17-year-old, who will only be able to move to Europe once he turns 18 in April 2025.

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