Rumour Reel: Crystal Palace pounce again for Brazil and Santos star Lucas Lima
Published:
Lee Gormley | October 5, 2016
Coral’s rumour reel
The transfer window may not be open until January, but that hasn’t stopped Premier League bosses from window shopping for some deals which could be agreed quickly upon the next market commencing.
Top tier outfits have some time to wait before deals can be done, yet many tacticians are still on the lookout for top talent, as the domestic action currently takes a back seat to this season’s second international break, which means plenty of chances to scout potential acquisitions.
Crystal Palace target Lima
Alan Pardew made an audacious attempt to lure Brazil international playmaker Lucas Lima to Crystal Palace from Santos in the summer but, after the previous frustration of missing out on their target, the Eagles are ready to swoop again.
Lucas Lima, who boasts 12 caps for the Samba Boys’ senior set-up, was the subject of a summer Deadline Day bid from Pardew’s London club, yet such a switch to Selhurst Park fell through.
The 26-year-old would provide Palace with a huge boost to their attacking ranks and he would surely help new frontman Christian Benteke flourish, as he possesses a wide range of creative abilities.
Santos are keen to keep hold of their prize asset and want to tie him down to a new contract in Brazil, but Lucas Lima has admitted he may be tempted into a move away, with China also a touted destination.
“There’s this possibility [of renewing],” said Crystal Palace target Lima. “I feel very good here. If I leave, it has to be good for me and for the club. Otherwise, I’m not going. It’s my home, I have friends here.”
Man Utd keeping tabs on Guedes
Manchester United scouts have been kept busy over the past few weeks, as the club continue to monitor the progress of some of Europe’s top emerging talent, with Genk’s Leon Bailey having been watched over previously.
The Red Devils have more recently been keeping tabs on another promising attacker from Benfica, 19-year-old Goncalo Guedes, who has been dubbed ‘the new Cristiano Ronaldo’ in his native homeland of Portugal.
Guedes is already a senior international for Portugal and is regarded as one of the best young talents in Portugal at the moment, with Benfica boss Rui Vitoria handing him a big role in his side following the exits of former stars Nicolas Gaitan and Renato Sanches.
The talented teenager is also represented by super agent Jorge Mendes, whose other clients include present Man Utd stars Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and this connection could see a future deal come to fruition swiftly at Old Trafford.
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