How Chelsea's ambition to emulate Real Madrid could see them sign Brazilian wonderkid likened to Thiago Silva

Chelsea boast some of the best young players in the world, hailing from Africa, Europe, and South America. William Estevão is set to arrive next summer, alongside Ecuadorian sensation Kendry Páez, who is already playing for his national team. In Europe, talents like Noni Madueke and Marc Guiu are already part of the first team.

Since taking over from Roman Abramovich in the summer of 2022, the club's new owners have had a clear vision: to build a self-sustaining team both on and off the pitch. Achieving this required offloading some of the existing squad to reduce the wage bill—a process that entails short-term pain for long-term gain.

They've now accomplished that and are moving on to the next stage, focusing on acquiring the best talents. This is why they’ve sent scouts to keep tabs on Vitor Reis. He plays alongside the highly-rated Estevão at Palmeiras and is expected to command a similar fee. Sources suggest that Real Madrid and Arsenal have also been monitoring him, which is why Chelsea are moving quickly to finalise a deal before other European clubs enter the fray and drive up the price.

There are several reasons why Chelsea are prioritising Reis, including the fact that he’s just 18 years old. Rising through the ranks of the Palmeiras academy, he has established himself as a promising talent. Known for his tactical intelligence, excellent positioning, and ability to play on both the right and left sides of central defence, Reis is considered a modern, versatile defender.

Another key factor is his physical prowess, which is well-suited to a league like the Premier League. He is quick-thinking, physically imposing for an 18-year-old, and loves to engage in challenges. This has led Palmeiras fans to compare him to Chelsea legend Thiago Silva.

Silva earned the respect of Chelsea fans with his commitment and dedication, despite arriving at the club in the twilight of his career. Even though the Brazilian has now left, fans still sing his name during games—a testament to his professionalism. There’s strong scouting support suggesting that Reis could follow in Silva’s footsteps.

Chelsea’s recent investments, such as Moisés Caicedo and Wesley Fofana, are already yielding results. Fofana, for example, has made a strong comeback and doesn’t seem like a player who was sidelined for a year due to injury.

Now, Chelsea don’t want to fall behind in securing future stars. They want to sign a player who can protect their assets while also becoming a potential superstar. The squad is already filled with potential top stars, but adding more quality to keep improving has been a proven strategy, as demonstrated by Real Madrid in recent years. Chelsea have seen this and are eager to get a piece of the action.