Kaio Jorge is another young footballer that has captured the eye of several Premier League teams. The 18-year-old is widely expected to make a jump in the summer, but Jorge prefers to leave the business side of things to his agent.
“I leave these things to my agent. I don’t get involved, he manages them,” Jorge said in a report from Corriere dello Sport. “Right now, I’m very happy at Santos and I want to keep doing well, growing and improving my football."
Though there are multiple teams pursuing him, Juventus has been singled out as the team leading the race. There is the growing belief that they are willing to trigger the Brazilian's release clause which is pegged at $81 million. But according to team president Jose Carlos Peres, there are others interested in getting the footballer.
"The market hasn't stopped even a second. I receive calls as normal. Football has stopped but the negotiations are still ongoing," Peres said to Calcio Mercato. "Two other Italian teams are very active as well as a French one. However, since no news has come out in the press, I cannot reveal the names," Peres said.
Jorge has not exactly shone brightly this season, having scored only once for Santos. However, teams have taken note of his past accomplishments. That includes winning the Bronze Ball when he played at the Under-17 World Cup last year for eventual champion Brazil. At the time, he scored five goals and an assist.
The thing with Jorge is that he is only more than a year through the deal which he signed in January 2019. The sixth youngest player to play for Santos signed a three-year deal, meaning his current pact will not end until 2022. But from the way things are going, it appears he won't last that long.
Though his release clause was previously mentioned to be $81 million, Santos is open to negotiations. The last price mentioned was that it went to as low as $32 million. Juventus has been linked but has not made any formal offer for Jorge.
Things could change after the current season ends. Most know that teams are trying to save up as they try to curb down losses caused by no games being played due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Juventus may consider Jorge as they target talented but reasonably priced booters. Compared to the known veteran names, a Jorge move to Juve seems plausible once the final transfer fee is agreed upon.
