Chelsea have made plenty of bold decisions in recent years, but selling Estevao could prove to be one of the biggest mistakes the club could make.
Interest is high in the Chelsea star, with Liverpool looking to replace the outgoing Cody Gakpo, according to several outlets, including the Guardian. There are rumours that a bid is being prepared for a late deadline-day move, although one that is likely to have come too late.
An abundance of left-wingers at Liverpool, coupled with a lack of suitable right-wing options, makes the links to Estevão obvious. Meanwhile, the rumoured £80million bid for the Dutchman would make the high-profile replacement equally clear and cash available to replace.
The young man signed from Palmeiras and went on to make 36 appearances last season across all competitions, scoring eight goals. That is considerable despite a number of those appearances coming from the bench.
The potential mistake?
The Brazilian youngster arrived at Stamford Bridge with enormous expectations, having already showcased glimpses of the talent that made him one of South America’s most exciting prospects. His provisional place in the World Cup squad was a testament to his ability, only for injury to cruelly deny him a place in the final 26-man squad, where he could have made a real difference in the famous yellow and green.
His pace, creativity, close control and fearless style make him the kind of player Chelsea supporters can dream of building a team around. More importantly, he could provide valuable depth behind Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, allowing both attacking stars to rest during congested periods without pressuring them to rush back from any potential injury.
Young players need that patience to develop, especially when they arrive at a club as demanding as Chelsea. Not every promising talent will become an instant first-team star, and with competition for places fierce, opportunities will not always come easily. But that is precisely why Chelsea must resist the temptation to give up on the Brazilian too soon.
The club has spent years investing heavily in young players while trying to build a squad capable of competing at the highest level for years to come. Selling Estevao, now with Xabi Alonso as his mentor, before discovering just how good he can become would make little sense and could ultimately undermine the very project Chelsea are trying to build for the short term and the long-term.
For supporters, the nightmare scenario is obvious. Estevao could leave Stamford Bridge, flourish elsewhere and develop into the world-class player many already believe he can become. Chelsea would then be left watching from their closest rivals as he lights up the Premier League and Champions League in different colours.
We only want to see Estevao in London Blue.
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