Real Madrid make Endrick U-turn – and Chelsea could be the big winners

Real Madrid star Endrick is “closer to leaving” the club than he is to returning, according to a report from Spain, and that is liable to prompt transfer interest from Chelsea.

Endrick was sent away on loan to Lyon in the January transfer window, and while injury issues back at the Bernabeu have led Los Blancos to regret that decision, the Brazilian is starring in Ligue 1.

With OL, he has scored five goals in six games, reaffirming his place among the best young talents in world football and providing a reminder of his capabilities.

Real Madrid change their mind over Endrick

Endrick’s future remains unclear. Real Madrid seemed to have shut down the possibility of a summer move, yet they have had a change of heart, with Fichajes indicating that the young Brazilian is likelier to be sold in the summer than return.

Los Blancos are eager for the 19-year-old to impress on loan in Lyon in order to make a profit on him.

They spent €47.5 million to sign him from Palmeiras and want at least that figure if and when he departs in the summer.

Chelsea ready to move

Several Premier League sides are said to be studying Endrick, yet Chelsea have been most closely linked with the striker. The Blues have had recent success with Brazilian recruits, with Joao Pedro and Willian Estevao both flourishing at Stamford Bridge.

And now Liam Rosenior’s side could complete a hat-trick of Brazilian recruits with Endrick, who they have tracked since his days with Palmeiras.

The Blues are known to be interested in signing an additional forward player, particularly with Liam Delap struggling to impress since a €35m move from Ipswich in the summer.

Competition is likely to come from Arsenal and Tottenham, while PSG have also been linked with the teenage hitman.

Endrick agent opens door to possible summer move

The player’s agent, Thiago Freitas, has refused to shut the door on a summer transfer.

“Endrick was loaned to Lyon for six months. The decision is already made and Endrick will return to Real Madrid at the end of the season. There is no ambiguity or secret about it,” he told Win Win (via Managing Madrid).

“The deal is only a loan, with no purchase option, therefore Endrick will return. What will happen next season? I can’t predict it, but I can tell you that at the end of this season Endrick will once again be a Real Madrid player.”

What next for Endrick?

Endrick’s future at Real Madrid is complicated. With Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior ahead of him in the pecking order at the Bernabeu, he is likely to find his minutes limited even next season.

Both the player and the club will have to work out whether this is a sustainable situation for such a talent.

If the answer is ‘no’, then it certainly opens the door to a possible move to the Premier League, and Chelsea in particular due to their recent track record of signing the world’s top young players.

Related stories:

Real Madrid target Tottenham star as Endrick swap possibility emerges

Endrick forces Real Madrid to consider €25m offer

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