According to a recent report by GloboEsporte, Chelsea have sent a scout to catch Bruno Guimarães in action for Athletico Paranaense in their 1-0 victory over Internacional on Wednesday night. The Brazilian midfield ace managed to score in the 58th minute to help his side claim a narrow 1-0 win in the first leg of the Copa do Brasil final.
The Metro has also claimed that the Pensioners will face stiff competition from Shakhtar Donetsk, LOSC Lille, Inter Milan and Napoli in pursuit of the South American sensation. In a recent interview (via the Metro), Guimaraes addressed his future and said, “The interest of other teams, I see that it’s normal when the person has been playing well,
“I leave that in the hands of my agents. I’m happy at Athletico and focused on the final.”
Frank Lampard currently has N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, Ross Barkley and Jorginho vying for a place in midfield at Stamford Bridge this season. However, the fact remains that the West London outfit could benefit from acquiring a new midfield option in January if their transfer ban gets reduced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Guimarães’ Remarkable Rise In Brazilian Football
Guimarães has impressed a lot with his performances for Athletico Paranaense in this campaign. The 21-year-old has featured in 23 matches for the Brazilian side, scoring four goals while creating two assists across all competitions. He has previously won the Copa Sudamericana and is currently in line to lift the Copa do Brasil trophy if his team can avoid defeat in the second leg versus Internacional.
The Athletico rising star has made a total of 50 appearances in the Brazilian Serie A, netting three goals while providing two assists thus far. On the defensive end, Guimarães averaged 1.4 tackles, 0.9 interceptions and 0.7 clearances per game in the Brazilian top-flight (stats via whoscored).
What Will The South American Youngster Bring To West London?
The Athletico Paranaense prospect primarily operates as a defensive midfielder but can also play in a box to box role at the centre of the park if needed. Guimarães can influence the game at both ends of the pitch. He possesses the ability to score or create a few goals from midfield. The Brazilian starlet can also provide adequate protection to his backline and make some vital interceptions to win back possession for his side.
The addition of a player of Guimarães’ potential will undeniably be a decent signing for the Pensioners. Lampard needs to recruit more talented young players so that he can win some trophies with Chelsea in the years to come. For now, the former Derby County boss would know that he has a massive rebuilding project in his hands before his team is ready to challenge with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.
The UEFA Europa League winners will do well to bring Guimarães to England as he has the potential to be a future star at Stamford Bridge.
