Why this €20m rated defender must snub Man United and join Chelsea

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte could be targeting a move for the highly-rated Brazilian youngster Thiago Maia this January.

Most Chelsea fans will be unfamiliar with the name, so here’s some more information about the man being touted as the most promising talent in Brazil right now.

The 19-year-old rose to fame following a series of outstanding displays for Brazil’s gold-medal winning football team during the 2016 Rio Olympics. He’s a left-footed central-midfield player, who enjoys defending but also uses the ball intelligently when required. His appetite for tackling and intercepting along with his ability to pick a pass are key traits that make this youngster such a hot-prospect.

The young Brazilian’s exploits have not gone unnoticed; clubs are reportedly queuing up to sign him from his current side Santos. Having settled on a 3-4-3 formation Antonio Conte is in the market for an all-action central midfield player to add competition for Nemanja Matic and N’Golo Kante.

However, Thiago Maia, who has been rated at around €20m, has also attracted interest from a host of other teams. Jose Mourinho’s Man United are rumoured to have taken an interest, which could result in a tug-of-war battle between the two clubs.

With Thiago Maia’s long-term future very much up in the air, here are THREE reasons why he should choose Chelsea over United this January.