Flamengo ‘cautiously optimistic’ on Kenedy, await Chelsea decision — report

Last week, Flamengo football director Bruno Spindel did not sound too confident when assessing their chances of getting Chelsea winger Kenedy, but things have apparently changed for the better since, if only by a slight margin. According to Goal, Flamengo are a bit more optimistic now, as Chelsea still have not received any other concrete offers for the 25-year-old — we’re hoping that European teams, who have more spending power than the Brazilian champions would step forward, but that has not happened.

This has allowed Flamengo to make good progress. They have already done the necessary step of convincing Kenedy that returning to Brazil would not be a step backwards in his career, pointing to fellow Fluminense players Gerson and Pedro reviving their careers at Flamengo and showing Gabriel Barbosa as evidence that a national team call-up isn’t out of the question either (he’s featured regularly in Tite’s squad selection, including for the Copa América).

But Flamengo, who are a month into their new season already, still have to convince Chelsea that a loan with a buy-option (or a buy-clause obligated by achieving certain team or individual targets) is a good solution. Kenedy has remained in Brazil to train with the club, and reportedly will not be joining up with Chelsea for preseason anyway.