Manchester United and Chelsea transfer news: Brazil duo Gabriel Barbosa and Thiago Maia wanted by Premier League giants

Competition for their signatures is rife with a host of European heavyweights taking interest

Posted Friday, August 12, 2016 by Thesun.co.uk

MANCHESTER UNITED and Chelsea have joined the chase for highly-rated Brazilian pair Gabriel Barbosa and Thiago Maia.

The duo, who are representing their country at the Olympics, are attracting interest across Europe with Atletico Madrid also thought to have held talks with Santos.

Gabriel Barbosa has scored twice for Brazil at the Olympics

Thiago Maia is also wanted by the Premier League duo

Leicester and Inter Milan have already launched a £23million bid for striker Barbosa but Santos are in no rush to sell the talented 19-year-old and are willing to wait and see which club makes the highest offer.

Maia, 19, is regarded as one of Brazil’s brightest youngsters and the defensive midfielder is wanted by both United and Chelsea once the Olympics is over.

Manchester United and Chelsea transfer news: Brazil duo Gabriel Barbosa and Thiago Maia wanted by Premier League giants
Leicester have already launched a £23m offer for Barbosa

Santos' president told Goal that he has been to both London and Spain to hold talks with each club. He said: "We had productive conversations.

"We didn't come to buy or sell players, neither in London or Madrid. We came to build up relationships.

"There weren't offers, but we did talk about partnerships. I talked to Manchester United, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid."

Santos' president has travelled to London to hold talks with both Manchester United and Chelsea

Barbosa, who has scored twice at the Olympics, has averaged a goal every other game for Santos in the league this season whilst Maia has become an important first team player for the Brazil side making 44 appearances since his first team debut in 2014.