Sheffield United are in talks with Sao Paulo about striking up
an exclusive partnership that would enable the Premiership side to
take several young players from the Brazilian giants.
Sao Paulo are firmly established as being one of South America's
top clubs and it would prove to a real fillip for the top flight
new boys if preliminary negotiations, set to begin early next year,
prove successful.
Director Simon McCabe, son of chairman Kevin, is to fly out to
Brazil to meet with senior figures following initial contact
between the two parties.
If talks prove successful then the two clubs will explore ways in
which their respective scouting and development experience can be
brought together.
"Sao Paulo are renowned for producing some of the best players in
the world," McCabe told the Sheffield Star.
"Cafu, Kaka and Denilson have all come from there, and we'll be
seeing how both of us can benefit from having a connection.
"They are very keen to have an affiliation with a Premiership club
and these talks are exclusive. They aren't speaking to anybody
else.
"The whole idea is to try and form some kind of link with them to
make it possible for their young up-and-coming players to come
here.
"Providing everything goes well we could send people out there to
formalise everything by the end of January or the beginning of
February."
United have already branched out into the global game having bought
Chinese club Chengu Blades last year, while the Yorkshire side have
also gone on fact-finding missions to West Africa.