Manchester United are planning to make a €50m (£44m) offer for Palmeiras’ Vitor Roque after interest from Chelsea, according to reports.
United are understood to be one of the ‘most interested’ clubs in the 20-year-old forward with Chelsea and West Ham also keen on the Brazilian.
The Red Devils have already sent scouts to watch Roque in action and it’s said they are now plotting a bid in order to win the race for his signature.
That’s according to Brazilian outlet O Golobo, although United will not be able to make a move for Roque until the transfer window opens in January.
Roque has registered 13 goals across 28 Série A games since he joined Palmeiras from Barcelona for an initial fee of €25.5m in February, as he became the most expensive signing in South American football history.
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Capped once by the Brazilian national team, Roque spent the 2024-25 season on loan at Real Betis, where he played under Manuel Pellegrini.
‘He is a powerful player, who moves quickly into open spaces,’ Pellegrini said about Roque.
Roque’s agent, André Cury, recently told Globo Esporte that the player is waiting to receive an offer from a Premier League club.
‘We already had an offer from the Arab world for €35m, which didn’t interest us,’ Cury said.
‘Now we are waiting to receive a proposal of around €50m from the Premier League.’
It’s believed that Roque is keen to stay at Palmeiras until the next summer transfer window to maximise his chances of playing for Brazil at the 2026 World Cup.
Barcelona is set to receive 20 per cent of the transfer fee when Roque leaves Palmeiras for a new club. They’d make €10m if he is sold for €50m.
While United are reported to be preparing a bid, the race for Roque is far from over, with Chelsea and West Ham still very much hoping to land him.
Chelsea has signed a number of young South American stars in recent seasons and could therefore be a more favourable destination for Roque.
West Ham, meanwhile, is likely to be able to offer Roque the most playing time, and their interest shouldn’t be discounted.
Roque has shone on the international youth stage and was the top scorer at the South American U20 Championship, helping Brazil land the trophy.