Manchester United, Chelsea 'sent scouts to watch Flamengo wonderkid Lorran'

The 2006-born protege is starting to earn fleeting first-team opportunities with the Brazilian giants, having come up with five goals in just nine appearances for the club's Under-20s.

Lorran made his first-team debut against Audax-RJ in the Taca Guanabara - a Rio de Janeiro-based league - in January, before netting his maiden senior goal on his second appearance against Bangu-RJ.

The 17-year-old has not made another first-team appearance since February, but he has been an unused substitute for Flamengo in the Copa do Brasil, Recopa Sudamericana and Brasileiro.

An eight-cap Brazil Under-17 international, Lorran made eight appearances in this year's Under-17 South American Championships, scoring one goal and setting up another en route to the trophy.

Primarily an attacking midfielder, the Rio native can also be deployed as a right-winger, and his contract with Flamengo only runs until the end of the 2025 campaign.

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Lorran is now being watched by representatives from Man United and Chelsea, and he has a release clause in his Flamengo contract worth €50m (£43.4m).

Romano adds that Lorran is signed to Roc Nation Sports Brazil - the agency of rapper Jay-Z, which manages several of his high-profile compatriots such as Vinicius Junior, Endrick, Lucas Paqueta and Gabriel Martinelli.

The right-wing position is a problem area for Man United in particular at the minute, as both Antony and Jadon Sancho have spent time away from the first team due to personal and disciplinary issues respectively.

Antony was granted leave after being accused of domestic violence by three different women - allegations he has vehemently denied - and he recently returned to the UK from Brazil to face police questioning.

The Red Devils have since welcomed Antony back to Carrington for training, but Sancho remains exiled from the group after a public spat with Ten Hag over his reasons for being dropped from the squad.

The Englishman was omitted from Ten Hag's team to face Arsenal in September owing to poor performances in training, according to the Dutchman, but Sancho has refuted his manager's version of events.

Sancho has allegedly been banished from the first-team facilities until he apologises to his manager, but he is refusing to back down, and an exit at some point in 2024 is thought to be the most likely outcome.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are expected to prioritise the signing of a new big-name striker in January, with moves for Brentford's Ivan Toney and Napoli's Victor Osimhen being mooted.

The Blues failed to score in all three of their Premier League fixtures in September, but they did scrape past Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 in the EFL Cup third round thanks to a goal from Nicolas Jackson, who is suspended for Monday's West London derby with Fulham.