Chelsea's January recruitment drive has intensified significantly following manager Liam Rosenior's appointment earlier this week.
The Blues have already been linked with audacious moves for Barcelona midfielder Fermín López and AC Milan winger Rafael Leão in a potential £130 million double swoop, demonstrating their ambition to strengthen the squad across multiple positions during the winter window.
rafael-leao-ac-milan
However, the west London club have now turned their attention to South America as they seek to add depth and quality to their midfield options.
The Blues are currently miles behind Premier League leaders Arsenal despite briefly being touted as title contenders, with a festive drop-off in form the catalyst for their overall downfall.
Amidst Rosenior's push for a top four spot, strengthening the squad is arguably essential if they hope to confirm their place among Europe's elite once again for 2026/2027.
Liam-Rosenior-Chelsea Related
Liam Rosenior asks Chelsea to sign £278k-a-week former Liverpool star on loan
The tactician has already demanded his first signing.
Rosenior inherits a squad that lifted both the Club World Cup and Conference League under Enzo Maresca, and one which was bolstered significantly in the summer after these feats.
However, it has also been much changed from back then, with several players departing before the start of the campaign.
Now, Rosenior has an opportunity to stamp his own mark on the Chelsea squad, with bold reports suggesting he has already asked BlueCo to consider deals for both Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bayern Munich's Kim Min-jae.
Trent
Chelsea's new boss is eyeing up fresh talent from Brazil as well, according to one media source this week.
Indeed, Chelsea have now even submitted their first concrete offer for a Brazilian prospect who has caught the eye of several Premier League clubs.
Chelsea submit bid for Corinthians midfielder Breno Bidon
According to Corinthians insider Somos Corinthianos, via Sport Witness, Chelsea lodged an official bid worth around £17 million for Corinthians midfielder Breno Bidon — marking the most decisive move from England so far.
breno-bidon-corinthians
The proposal arrived at Corinthians earlier this week but was rejected almost immediately.
Chelsea's approach has actually strengthened the Brazilian club's negotiating position rather than weakening it, with Corinthians now hardening their stance on any potential departure for one of their most prized young assets.
Sources in Brazil indicate that Corinthians have responded to Chelsea's interest by significantly increasing their asking price.
The Sao Paulo club now want between £30-35 million before they will consider sanctioning a sale, representing almost double Chelsea's initial proposal and showing just how highly they rate the midfielder.
Bidon remains under contract at Corinthians until December 2029, providing the Brazilian side with considerable leverage in any negotiations.
The club see absolutely no reason to rush into any decision regarding his future, particularly with multiple Premier League clubs expressing varying degrees of interest in recent months.
Chelsea's move adds another layer to a transfer saga that already involved significant English interest before the Blues even entered the picture.
Manchester United players during a minutes silence
Manchester United players during a minutes silence
Man United have tracked Bidon extensively over recent months, conducting detailed scouting missions and gathering comprehensive reports on his performances and potential suitability for English football, as per SW.
Arsenal also contacted Corinthians to request information about a possible deal for the midfielder. The Gunners apparently sought to understand the financial parameters surrounding any transfer, and gauge whether Bidon is a realistic target in January.
The 20-year-old remains extremely highly-rated, with Como scout Ben Mattinson claiming that some refer to him as the Brazilian answer to Barcelona sensation Pedri.
The Brazil Under-20 international is poised to garner more and more interest this year, and Chelsea appear right at the front of the queue.
RC Strasbourg coach Liam Rosenior is interviewed before the match Related
[Approved by Rosenior: "World-class" £60k-p/w star now prime Chelsea target](https://www.footballfancast.com/liam-rosenior-mike-maignan-chelsea-prime-transfer-target/ "Approved by Rosenior: "World-class" £60k-p/w star now prime Chelsea target")
The Blues are keen on a new goalkeeper.