Chelsea prepare opening offer for Brazilian speedster being pursued by United – report

While the midfield is likely to be Manchester United’s priority in the transfer market in 2026, strengthening the backline is also likely to be on Ruben Amorim’s agenda. The Red Devils have improved significantly this season following a summer of well-planned reinforcements, but they have still conceded 22 goals in 15 games in the league this season. Only Liverpool (24) have let in more goals than United among the top ten in the league this campaign, which suggests that the defence needs to be addressed next year. Premier League table 2025/26: Top Ten ClubGames PlayedGames WonGames DrawnGames LostGoals ScoredGoals ConcededGoal DifferencePoints Arsenal1510322891933 Manchester City15101435161931 Aston Villa159332215730 Crystal Palace157532012826 Chelsea1574425151025 Manchester United157442622425 Everton157351817124 Brighton156542521423 Sunderland156541817123 Liverpool157262424023 Meanwhile, Harry Maguire is out of contract in six months, Luke Shaw is on the wrong side of 30, and Lisandro Martinez has struggled to stay fit of late. A recent report relayed by The Peoples Person states that the Red Devils have identified Gremio starlet Luis Eduardo as an option to strengthen their backline. Brazil’s rising star Eduardo caught the eye with the Brazil Under-17 team at this year’s FIFA Under-17 World Cup. He is due to turn 18 in January, but has already made his debut for Gremio’s senior side. The tall defender is blessed with blistering pace, which makes him an enticing target for the Red Devils. The Premier League giants are putting a lot of emphasis on the attack under Amorim, which makes them vulnerable to counterattacks. Eduardo, as such, would be a fine fit at the Theatre of Dreams. The previous report also mentioned Chelsea as one of the player’s suitors, and an update on the saga has now emerged that could cause a few worries at United. Chelsea preparing opening offer for Eduardo According to Brazilian journalist Fábio Vargas, Chelsea are working on their opening offer for Eduardo, which is likely to be in the region of €10 million, including bonuses. The teenager is under contract with Gremio until 2028, and reportedly has a €60 million release clause in his deal. As such, it appears that the Blues are simply testing the waters with their initial offer for him. However, these developments suggest that the London giants are serious about their pursuit of Eduardo. Given Chelsea’s recent record in the transfer market, especially with younger talents, the update could spell trouble for United. The Blues appear to have accelerated their efforts to beat the competition in the race, so it is now up to the Red Devils to initiate a response. It is unclear whether the Brazilian club is willing to open talks for their star player, but it looks increasingly likely that Eduardo could end up in the Premier League soon. Final Thoughts United have been linked with several South American talents of late, including Dell, Allan, Breno Bidon and Rayan. The Red Devils are trying to make their presence felt on the continent, and a move for Eduardo certainly makes sense. With Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven also in the squad, the Brazilian’s proposed arrival could help sort out the Premier League giants’ defence for the next decade. 🇪🇪🚨 #Chelsea, sinaliza com proposta oficial por Luís Eduardo zagueiro destaque na seleção na copa do mundo sub-17, valores podem superar os € 10 milhões de euros. Com bônus no contrato. pic.twitter.com/AeDXthWm0P — Fábio Vargas (@fabioHDG) December 9, 2025 Featured image Christopher Furlong via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.