Chelsea’s growing multi-club structure may already be opening another door in the Brazilian market. Now, Jonathan Jesus is emerging as a potential BlueCo target.
The 21-year-old Cruzeiro defender has attracted interest from Strasbourg, according to reports from Central da Toca. Comments from ESPN Brazil journalist Bruno Andrade also support this.
Strasbourg are owned by BlueCo, the same group behind Chelsea, and the situation is already being discussed in Brazil through that wider Chelsea lens.
BlueCo move suits player’s intentions
Bruno Andrade stated there are conversations underway involving Strasbourg. He also stressed that contacts in France and England are viewed more positively by the player than a possible move elsewhere.
Jonathan Jesus already had strong interest from Zenit Saint Petersburg earlier this year. Cruzeiro rejected an €8m (£6.9m) bid at the time, and the Russian side have reportedly returned in recent days.
He was also the focus of a recent Tottenham scouting mission in Brazil, so it’s not the first time an English club shows interest in the centre-back.
However, the defender’s preference appears clear.
According to Andrade, Jonathan Jesus currently views France and England as much more attractive destinations than Russia. That naturally strengthens Strasbourg’s position. This is especially true given the pathway BlueCo have been building between the French side and Chelsea.
Why Jonathan Jesus fits the BlueCo model
His profile itself makes a lot of sense for Strasbourg. Jonathan Jesus has become a regular starter for Cruzeiro this season. In fact, he has already played 20 matches in 2026, starting 19 of them.
More importantly, he is not viewed as a ‘purely defensive’ defender.
Jonathan Jesus has earned praise in Brazil for his composure on the ball, his passing range, and his ability to start attacks from deep. He is also comfortable stepping forward aggressively and contributing higher up the pitch.
That was visible recently against Goiás in the Copa do Brasil, when he scored after exchanging passes inside the box. He then finished calmly.
For clubs inside the Chelsea ecosystem, that technical profile is increasingly valuable.
Cruzeiro now valuing defender much higher
Cruzeiro’s stance has also changed significantly over recent months.
The club signed Jonathan Jesus from Ceará last year, purchasing 80% of his economic rights for around €1.3m (£1.1m). Since then, his valuation has risen sharply.
Bruno Andrade reports that Cruzeiro now want around €15m (£12.9m) to sell him. This is almost double the amount previously offered by Zenit.
At this stage, there is no indication Chelsea are planning to sign Jonathan Jesus directly.
Instead, this increasingly looks like a classic BlueCo-style move, where Strasbourg acts as the first European step for a young South American talent before any possible progression inside the wider network.
And with Jonathan Jesus preferring France or England, the structure around Chelsea may suddenly give Strasbourg a major advantage in the race for his signature.