- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Premier League trio Chelsea, Wolves and Nottingham Forest are all looking at £15 million Athletico Paranaense goalkeeper Bento after his impressive display during Brazil’s 1-0 win over England on Saturday.
HITC Football understands that the 24-year-old shot-stopper – who made his Selecao debut as Real Madrid-bound wonderkid Endrick scored the only goal of the game at Wembley – is a player in high-demand ahead of the summer transfer window.
Italian giants and Serie A champions-to-be Inter Milan came close to signing Bento Matheus Krepski in January. But, after failing to finalise a deal, the Nerazzuri are now at risk of missing out entirely with a trio of Premier League clubs joining the race.
Chelsea join goalkeeper race
Bento, who is keen on a move across the Atlantic, has admirers at Chelsea. The underperforming London giants have invested heavily in South American talents since the Todd Boehly takeover – bringing in the likes of Deivid Washington, Kendry Paez and Angelo Gabriel – and are now keen on making Bento the fourth goalkeeping signing of the Clearlake era after Robert Sanchez, Gabriel Slonina and Djordje Petrovic.
HITC Football understands that Chelsea are ready to bring in a new number one this summer and have already started looking at their options. They like Arsenal reserve Aaron Ramsdale and the excellent Valencia glovesman Giorgi Mamardashvili. Bento, available for around £15 million, could present an intriguing option to The Blues.
We have also been told that Wolves and Nottingham Forest – two clubs who also have a real interest in the South American market – are keen on the 6ft 3ins Brazilian. Wolverhampton Wanderers have built their recent success upon a platform of Portuguese speakers, while Nottingham Forest have pulled off a couple of inspired deals from the Brazilian league, bringing in Murillo and Danilo in 2023.
Bento could be heading to the Premier League
“Every week, Bento (raises his price-tag) by two million euros,” legendary former Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari tells Globo Esporte. “I think he’s the best goalkeeper in Brazil.
“There’s Lucas Perri (Botafogo) and Santos (Flamengo). All goalkeepers of great quality. But Bento has stood out for a series of details.”
Bento is under contract at Athletico Paranaense until 2026. Wolves’ current number one – Jose Sa – remains a decent shot-stopper but there are doubts over his distribution.
Forest, meanwhile, have rattled through a whole host of goalkeepers since their promotion with rather limited success.
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