“After I saw his performance against us, I personally told coach that we have to bring him to Stamford Bridge as soon as possible. If he was not there I would have scored. He’s an amazing defender” – This is according to Cole Palmer as he advises Chelsea to target Flamengo’s defender following his standout display in their recent match against the Blues.

Chelsea’s recent 3–1 loss to Flamengo has highlighted a pressing need to strengthen their defense ahead of the upcoming season. In that game, Enzo Maresca selected Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah as his central defensive pair, with Marc Cucurella and Malo Gusto operating as the full-backs. However, the backline failed to impress.

Notably, Reece James was used in a midfield role rather than his usual right-back position—something he previously did during his loan spell at Wigan Athletic. This move has sparked fresh speculation about Chelsea’s long-term plans for the right-back spot.

Recent reports suggest that Chelsea may be open to selling Malo Gusto if a suitable offer is received. Should that happen, the club would be left with the injury-prone Reece James and the relatively untested Josh Acheampong as their only right-back options—an outcome they’ll likely want to avoid.

As a result, Chelsea are exploring potential reinforcements for the position, and one name that has come to the fore is Wesley Franca of Flamengo, whose performance against the Blues reportedly left a strong impression.

Chelsea tracking Flamengo’s Wesley Franca

According to O Globo (via The Chelsea Chronicle), Chelsea have expressed interest in signing Wesley Franca this summer. Flamengo are already said to be preparing for his expected move to Europe.

Franca delivered a standout display against Chelsea—winning all four of his tackles, prevailing in eight of eleven duels, avoiding being dribbled past, and completing 42 of 46 passes. The 19-year-old right-back has drawn interest from multiple clubs, including Arsenal, and is reportedly valued at around €35 million.

That said, Chelsea have a history of signing players without sufficient due diligence. While Franca’s performance was certainly impressive, it’s important the club conducts a thorough evaluation rather than basing a transfer decision on a single match.