Vasco eyeing move for Deivid Washington to fill Vegetti’s spot | OneFootball

The confirmed departure of Pablo Vegetti to Cerro Porteño forced Vasco da Gama to recalculate its course in the transfer market. Without its main area reference and technical leadership, the club's management decided to be bold and target promising talents playing in the elite of world football. The name gaining traction behind the scenes at São Januário is Deivid Washington, a young forward revealed by Santos who currently belongs to the Chelsea squad in England. The Rio club is monitoring the player's situation, understanding that he possesses the offensive "DNA" necessary for the new cycle starting in 2026.

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Vasco's strategy and the change in tactical profile

The interest in Deivid Washington signals a drastic change in the team's playing philosophy. While Vegetti was a physically imposing center forward, a pivot, and strong in aerial play, the Chelsea target offers exactly the opposite: mobility, dribbling, and participation in play construction. This change in profile meets a direct request from coach Fernando Diniz, who desires a more fluid and less static attack. The management understands that it's not enough to just replace the outgoing player; it's essential to find an athlete who combines technical potential with the intensity the coach demands.

However, extracting a gem from the Premier League is a highly complex financial task. The deal is considered "delicate" behind the scenes, given that Chelsea recently made a massive investment in the player. Vasco is studying scenarios and business models — such as a showcase loan, for example — to try to facilitate the player's arrival. Besides Deivid, Vasco agrees on salary terms with Douglas Luiz and attempts release from Juventus, of Nottingham Forest, showing that the focus is on Brazilian talents in England.

Who is Deivid Washington?

For Vasco fans, Deivid Washington represents the profile of a "polished gem." At 20 years old, the forward emerged like a hurricane in Santos' youth ranks, being treated early on as the successor to great talents from Vila. His rise was so meteoric that, in 2023, Chelsea shelled out around 15 million euros (between R$ 79 and R$ 81 million at the time), plus bonuses, to bring him to London.

Despite his young age and European ties, Deivid has an important advantage for Vasco: adaptation. He played in the 2023 Brazilian Championship for Santos and briefly returned in 2025. This familiarity is seen as a differential, as the club believes he would need little time to start performing, unlike a foreign bet who has never played in the country. Deivid is a modern forward who can play centrally or on the wings, a characteristic Diniz values to add dynamism to the offensive sector.

Deivid Washington was recently at Santos on loan – Photo: Raul Baretta/Santos FC

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.