Roma are anxiously awaiting a response from Santos after making their offer for striker Marcos Leonardo, with competition from Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.
The centre-forward only turned 20 in May and impressed for Brazil at the Under-20 World Cup this summer.
He had also been heavily linked with Lazio before they switched to a different target, but has now become first choice for Roma after Inter closed on West Ham United’s Gianluca Scamacca.
According to Sky Sport Italia, Marcos Leonardo has also been approached by Premier League sides Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, although he would prefer Jose Mourinho’s Giallorossi.
The cost of the operation would be circa €15m including bonuses and a percentage of the sell-on fee.
There is one other concern, which is that Santos need to find a replacement before letting him leave, but the Brazilian transfer window shuts in only a few hours.
Mourinho sent a message to the club last night on the final day of pre-season training in Portugal, framing the team picture to leave a large gap where a centre-forward ought to be.