Crystal Palace have made enquiries over a move for Flamengo teenager Matheus Franca, according to The Daily Mail.

The Lowdown: Franca profiled

Franca is primarily an attacking midfielder who can also play on the wing and is sponsored by Nike. The 18-year-old has a €100m (£87.6m) release clause with Flamengo and has made 25 senior appearances for his current employers, scoring six times.

He has attracted interest from Manchester City and Real Madrid, but it looks as if Crystal Palace are eyeing a surprise move.

The Latest: Palace linked with Franca

The Daily Mail’s Simon Jones shared a story on Tuesday lunchtime regarding Palace and Franca.

He revealed that the Eagles have made an approach to Flamengo and have shown a willingness to offer £15m plus a sell-on percentage for Franca’s signature.

The Verdict: Future star?

Franca does seem to be a potential star in the making, so securing his services in 2023 could prove to be a shrewd piece of business by Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman in the long run.

Palace are at risk of losing star attacker Wilfried Zaha next year, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season and the 30-year-old reportedly eyeing a move to Barcelona. 

Therefore, a potential replacement for the Ivorian could be required, and although Franca may not have the experience of the Palace forward at this moment in time, he could go from strength to strength at Selhurst Park.