Chelsea are reportedly open minded to signing yet another goalkeeper during the summer transfer window.
The Blues are currently focused on their final two matches of the season, their most important under Enzo Maresca with a pivotal Premier League showdown at Nottingham Forest being followed by the Conference League final against Real Betis three days later.
However, behind the scenes, club officials will be plotting how to strengthen their squad ahead of 2025-26, even though co-owner Todd Boehly has insisted that Chelsea's high levels of investment are approaching an end.
Given the amount of goalkeepers that Chelsea already have on their books, it appeared unlikely that they would pursue another stopper once the market reopens in June.
Nevertheless, according to UOL, Chelsea are ready to 'enter the fight' for a goalkeeper plying his trade in Brazil.
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Shock move for Brazilian goalkeeper in offing?
The report alleges that the West Londoners have been left impressed with the performances of Santos goalkeeper Gabriel Brazao.
In 15 months at Estadio Urbano Caldeira, the 24-year-old has kept 19 clean sheets and conceded just 56 goals from his 54 appearances.
Prior to arriving in February 2024, Brazao had only ever made 11 first-team outings across stints with Albacete, Real Oviedo and SPAL, none of which were top-flight clubs at the time.
Santos were also a second-tier team in 2024, Brazao helping them to promotion, and just 11 goals have been shipped in his opening nine Brasileiro appearances.
Although Brazao has also previously spent time at Parma and Inter Milan, he never made a senior outing for those two Italian clubs.
Chelsea are said to have already made contact with Santos - who they have negotiated deals with in the past - at a time when Porto and Galatasaray are among the teams monitoring his progression.
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Would Maresca give green light to move?
Maresca has consistently given his backing to the likes of Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen this season, despite their inconsistent performances.
Chelsea signing Brazao would feel like a club decision rather than Maresca's, and it would be somewhat bizarre given the goalkeepers that are already tied to the club.
Djordje Petrovic has just collected the Player of the Season award at fellow BlueCo-owned club Strasbourg, while 19-year-old Mike Penders has racked up 25 appearances for Genk this campaign and is viewed as a future number one.
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Darren Plant
