Luis Eduardo: Man United face transfer battle for Gremio starlet – Man United News And Transfer News

1

Manchester United have opened talks to sign Gremio wonderkid Luis Eduardo but face competition from a Premier League rival for the highly-rated 17-year-old defender, according to a report.

South American Speedster

Eduardo impressed for Brazil during the Under-17 World Cup last month, with the Seleção finishing fourth in the tournament in Qatar.

Spanish newspaper Diario AS states Eduardo was one of the team’s “best players” as he marshalled the defence and demonstrated his “tremendous speed” – with the Premier League having “taken notice”.

The youngster, who turns 18 in next month, made his senior debut for Gremio at the beginning of the year in the Campeonato Gaucho. He has also impressed in the Copinha, where he helped Rei de Copas reach the semi-final stage.

Despite his tender years, Eduardo is already a physical monster, standing 1.88m tall (6’2) and possessing mobility which makes little sense given his size.

In a match against Red Bull Bragantino in the final sixteen of the Copinha, Diario AS reveals he reached a top speed of 38km/h while sprinting back to prevent a certain goal and “secured his team’s passage to the next round”.

This would make him the fastest player in the Premier League were he to arrive in January, with Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Jackson Tchatchoua ranking first this season with a top speed of 37.3km/h.

The ability to dominate transitions is integral in modern football. Defenders are expected to be able to push up high to condense the pitch and suffocate the opposition, but retain sufficient speed to cover the large spaces this approach creates.

The fact that Eduardo is already one of the fastest players in world football before he turns 18, while retaining excellent defensive instincts and the usual technique Brazilian players are blessed with, explains why the centre-back is considered one of the premier prospects in South America.

And why the Premier League’s elite are closely tracking his progress, with both United and Chelsea holding talks to sign the Gremio starlet.

United vs Chelsea

Diario AS reveals the two English clubs have “already begun negotiations and made contacts that should result in an offer in the coming weeks.”

In July, Eduardo signed a new deal with Gremio. It runs until May 2028 and contains a €60 million release clause – a reflection how highly the Brazilian side rate their academy graduate with Gremio “know[ing] they have a diamond in the rough,” according to the report.

Eduardo would be able to join a Premier League side once he turns 18 in January, due to Brexit rules dictating players from abroad cannot be signed before this age.

But whether United would be willing to lay down a €60 million offer for a (soon to be) 18-year-old defender, given the financial constraints at Old Trafford and the other areas of Ruben Amorim’s squad in desperate need to investment, is an entirely different question.

Chelsea, by contrast, have adopted of a mentality of ‘buy now, think later’ in the transfer market, and would happily invest such a fee in a South American youngster.

Eduardo is a player to watch as the January transfer window approaches, but Red Devil fans should be prepared for the possibility of seeing the Brazilian behemoth breaking speed records for Premier League players in a blue shirt, rather than a red one.

Featured image Alex Livesey 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