Chelsea closing in on Brazilian wonderkid Gabriel Barbosa ahead of Juventus and Barcelona
CHELSEA are closing in on Brazilian wonderkid Gabriel Barbosa despite competition from Juventus and Barcelona.
The Santos striker hinted he was set to leave the club before posting a picture on Instagram which appeared to say goodbye to supporters.
And the Blues are in pole position after Brazilian media reported they had upped their £15million offer.
Antonio Conte is willing to shell out on Barbosa, who has refused to sign a new contract with Santos.
He has five goals in 10 games this season and two in four having broken into the Brazil team in March.
Barbosa, 19, scored on Saturday as Santos beat Ponte Preta.
And he told a post-match news conference: "I played as if it was my last game here. Soon you will know something."
The talented striker then posted an Instagram picture of himself kissing the Santos badge, alongside the message: "My heart is Alvinegro and it will always beat for you. Santos are my life. I will love you until death."
Santos had claimed Barbosa had agreed a contract extension till 2021, triggering fears the teen would stay in Brazil to continue his development like Neymar.
But Barbosa told : "No, there is still no agreement. The president ended up talking, but there is nothing confirmed.
"We are just talking. My parents and my representatives are talking. They have some things to discuss. I have proposals, too, but there's nothing confirmed yet.
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"I need to talk with my parents and my representatives. We are talking and we are going to resolve it slowly."
Conte has already brought in Belgian starlet Michy Batshuayi this window and is forming what could be a very raw but exciting front line for next season.