Leeds United have joined a group of European clubs tracking Internacional midfielder Gustavo Prado who has become one of the most watched players at the Under-20 World Cup in Chile.
The Brazilian player has been on the radar of scouts from England, Italy and Germany, who are observing his every move, according to Corrieo do povo.
The 20-year-old talent came through Internacional’s academy system and has already made 22 first-team appearances this year scoring two goals and impressing coaches with his versatility.
According to Revisto Collarado, Internacional would consider offers around £17m [$21m] despite the player’s release clause being set at £51m [$68m] which shows how the club are open to negotiations yet determined not to lose him below what they view as his fair value.
The Elland Road side have expanded expanded their scouting network into South America and Prado has emerged as a profile who fits their long-term strategy of securing young players with high ceilings similar to their previous move for Raphinha, who developed into a world-class winger before joining Barcelona.
But reportedly, interest in Prado extends beyond England with Atalanta and Stuttgart also monitoring his performances and Internacional officials have acknowledged receiving inquiries in the last transfer window although no official bid has yet arrived.
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With Ramon Diaz only recently appointed as manager the Brazilian side now face a delicate balancing act as they prepare to integrate Prado into their project while knowing that strong displays in Chile could accelerate offers from Europe.