Per Sport Witness, Brentford are among the clubs now in the picture for Grêmio teenager Gabriel Mec, with the Brazilian side expected to listen to offers for one of their top young assets.
Brentford have reportedly joined the race for Grêmio prospect Gabriel Mec, with Sport Witness claiming the Bees are now monitoring the 17-year-old more closely as the summer window approaches. Nottingham Forest are also said to be in the mix, while clubs in Portugal are reported to have already held talks over the Brazilian attacker.
According to Sport Witness, Mec’s situation is beginning to accelerate as Grêmio prepare for what is described as a likely sale. The report says the teenager is now considered the club’s priority outgoing, with financial pressures increasing the need to generate funds and Mec viewed internally as their most valuable and marketable asset.
The report adds that Brentford’s interest comes at a time when Mec is beginning to gain more consistent senior exposure. While he is yet to register a goal or assist this year, the same report describes him as a “game-changing player” because of his directness and tenacity, which is said to have helped attract attention from both Brentford and Forest.
In terms of valuation, Grêmio had previously accepted an offer from Shakhtar Donetsk worth around €15 million, made up of €13 million fixed and €2 million in bonuses, before the move fell through because Mec decided he did not want to proceed. The report says that figure is now effectively the starting point for any new discussions rather than a ceiling.
The market around Mec has reportedly become increasingly competitive. Benfica are reported to have already held meetings with the player’s representatives, while further talks are scheduled with Sporting and Porto are also said to be interested. Brentford and Nottingham Forest are at the forefront of the English clubs now making enquiries, widening the race considerably.
For Brentford, it would fit a familiar profile if the interest is genuine. Mec is young, highly rated and still early in his first-team development, which is exactly the stage at which Brentford have often looked to identify talent before the price climbs further. Any move for Mec would also align with the wider recruitment model Brentford have recently been praised for, with the club’s long-term squad-building approach again underlining the type of player they are targeting. But for now, this remains one to watch rather than one to overstate. Per Sport Witness, Grêmio are open to negotiations if a strong offer arrives, and the expectation inside the club is that a deal could happen in the middle of the year, particularly once Mec turns 18 in April.