Chelsea
Barcelona Youngster Set For £8.1m Move?
Chelsea and Manchester City are battling it out for the signature of Barcelona wonderkid Gerard Deulofeu, who has an £8.1m buy-out clause in his contract.
Despite the transfer window being closed, there is always transfer gossip doing the rounds in the papers and we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest news during the coming months. Today, Chelsea may lose out to Man City in the race for Gerard Deulofeu.
Chelsea and Manchester City are battling it out for the signature of Barcelona wonderkid Gerard Deulofeu, according to the Daily Mail.
The 18-year-old has been tipped to be the next big thing out of Barca’s academy set-up and has starred for the Catalans B team this season.
However, Deulofeu is still on a youth contract at the club and has so far refused to sign pro terms with the Catalans throwing his future at the Nou Camp in to serious doubt.
Extensive talks between Barca and the players representatives have already taken place with the La Liga outfit offering him a new five-year deal, but the attacker is reluctant to commit his future to the the club unless he’s given assurances that he’ll be given more first team chances.
Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester City have been alerted to Deulofeu’s situation and are prepared to meet the £8.1m buy-out clause in his current contract.
The Daily Mail claim Man City appear favourites as they are willing to offer higher wages than their rivals while new sporting director Txiki Begiristain – who used to work for Barcelona – is also believed to have informed the Premier League champions of the intmate details of Deulofeu’s situation.
Deulofeu has scored some impressive goals for Barca B this season but has appeared for the first team just twice, once in the Champions League and once in the Spanish Cup, and is growing impatient for regular action. Unless he’s given assurances he’s in Tito Vilanova’s plans, he could be set for a move to the Premier League with Chelsea and City heading the queue.
Read more Chelsea transfer news | Man City transfer news
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