Chelsea are now favourites to secure the signing of Barcelona midfielder Ilaix Moriba, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Manchester City and Manchester United had also been linked with the 18-year-old but it is believed that RB Leipzig were the Blues’ main rivals for the Spaniard’s signature.
However, the Bundesliga club are unwilling to meet Barca’s €20m (£17m) asking price, leaving Chelsea with a clear run to snap up Moriba before the transfer window shuts.
Mundo Deportivo even claim that the teenager was in London last weekend suggesting that negotiations may have reached an advanced stage.
Whether there is any truth to that, we shall have to wait and see, but the newspaper say that Barcelona will “agree to negotiate” with the Blues, with the two teams having good relations.
If Moriba does sign, he may not be able to play for the first team straight away due to visa problems, so it could be the case that he is sent out on a temporary basis, joining Chelsea’s loan army.
