Chelsea FC will reportedly resume its pursuit of Thiago Maia when the winter transfer window opens in January as the English Premier League club prepares a £15 million bid for the Santos FC starlet.
Daily Mail Online reported that the Blues "will revive their interest in Santos midfielder" Maia in January after falling short of their bid to snag the 19-year-old Brazilian this summer.
The report noted that the Stamford Bridge giants had approached the Brazilian Serie A club for the services of the defensive midfielder "prior to his participation in the Olympics with Brazil", but Santos was just "reluctant to sell before the end of their season".
The 2016 Brazilian top flight season ends this December, which would be just in time for Chelsea to re-submit their offer for Maia. Rumors abound that the Pensioners are willing to pay £15 million just to sign the teenage defender.
Maia's contract with Santos is still up to the end of the 2019 season.
The Brazil international is one of the key players of the under-23 Canarinho squad that won the gold medal in this summer's Rio Olympics together with Barcelona superstar Neymar, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabigol.
Despite his young age, Maia already has 72 senior appearances in all competitions during his so far three-season stay with Santos. He had scored twice during the said time span playing mainly on defense.
Caught Offside indicated that Maia has the skills that "ticks" head coach Antonio Conte's boxes "in terms of what he's looking for to bolster his midfield further".
The article said that Conte had hoped to add Maia to his summer deadline day signings of David Luiz and Marcos Alonso from Paris Saint-Germain and Fiorentina respectively, but his Brazilian club hesitated on letting him go with the season still ongoing.
It has been a remarkable beginning for the 47-year-old former Italy national team head coach in the English top flight as the Blues won all three of its games so far in the Premier League for a still unblemished record.
Chelsea is currently at the top of the Premier League table together with rivals Manchester United and Manchester City all with nine points apiece. Conte and his crew are set to face Swansea City on Sunday and will go for a fourth straight win.
