Real Madrid have identified Lucas Silva as a potential replacement for Sami Khedira, who continues to be linked with a move away from the Bernabeu.
The 21-year-old Brazilian has established himself as a valuable asset to Cruzeiro over the past year, and is regarded as one of the best young talents in the country.
He is rated so highly in Brazil that the national manager Dunga has recently been questioned as to why Silva hasn’t been included in his latest squad.
The defensive midfielder has featured regularly in the youth teams for Brazil, and made a great impact at the U20 World Cup in Toulon this summer – a tournament his country went on to win.
Meanwhile, World Cup Sami Khedira continues to be linked with a move to the Premier League. Both Arsenal and Chelsea are said to be interested in the German midfielder, whose contract runs out in the summer, and so he will be able to speak to foreign clubs in January.