Fluminense starlet Wallace looks set to follow in the footsteps of twins Rafael and Fabio by leaving for England before playing for the Brazilian club. Fluminense have confirmed that as part of the deal that saw them sign Deco last summer, they sold 40 per cent of the rights of teenage defender Wallace to Chelsea.
The 16-year-old full-back has since impressed hugely for the Brazilian Under-17 side and now it appears Chelsea are ready to push through a permanent deal.
Fluminense's president Peter Siemsen confirmed that Wallace was already part owned by Chelsea.
"He still plays for Fluminense and to get him out of Brazil, Chelsea would have to pay the amount of the penalty clause remaining," Siemsen confirmed.
"Chelsea only have a stake in him."
But Wallace revealed that he was ready to make the move, before he had even pulled on a first-team shirt for Fluminense - following the same path as the twins, who moved to Manchester United from the Rio de Janeiro-based club.
"I feel ready for this challenge since I started playing football," Wallace told globoesporte.
"I have not talked with the coaches yet, but the expectation exists. Let's see how it goes."
Denial
Fluminense have been quick to deny that Wallace's situation is similar to that of the Da Silva twins and insists he may yet stay.
"The situation is totally different," he opined.
"They were negotiated for and a deadline was there for them to move by the time they were 18.
"That was then, not now - we want the player to stay, and depending on our coach, rise to the professional ranks here by 2012."
