CHELSEA are set for a transfer battle with Manchester United over Barcelona’s teenage sensation Ilaix Moriba, according to reports.
The midfielder, 18, is out of contract at the Nou Camp next year.
Ilaix Moriba is a transfer target for Chelsea and Manchester United should he not sign a new contract at BarcelonaCredit: AFP OR LICENSORS
New president Joan Laporta will have an extension high on his priority list after being voted in at the weekend.
But according to Sport via Sport Witness, Moriba is not short of options elsewhere.
The report states Chelsea made an ‘important offer’ for the teenager in a recent transfer window in the hope of luring the Spanish youth international to West London.
It comes just days after reports of Manchester United and RB Leipzig’s interest surfaced – with suggestions the Old Trafford club also tabled an offer for the prodigy.
But Moriba is thought to be happy at his boyhood club and keen to sign a new deal.
The 6ft 1in midfielder had an £89million release clause inserted into his last contract in 2019 to fend off Manchester City and Juventus.
The central midfielder’s agent is Jonathan Barnett, who represents Gareth Bale among others.
Moriba joined Barca aged seven from their city rivals Espanyol, and came through their famed La Masia academy alongside Ansu Fati.
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Capped nine times at junior level by Spain, he broke into Barcelona’s B team last season.
First-team boss Ronald Koeman has handed him five senior appearances this term.
Three of those have come in LaLiga – and he has scored or assisted in each one, netting his first professional goal in a 2-0 win at Osasuna last weekend.
As a 15-year-old he tore Real Madrid Under-19s apart with a simply stunning hat-trick – including a goal directly from kick-off – while comparisons are now being made with Paul Pogba due to his technical and physical attributes.
Ex-Barcelona youth coach Denis Silva Puig told Bleacher Report: “He’s physically very strong, but he’s also a very intelligent player. Most people don’t appreciate this.
“Here he’s called the ‘Pogba of Barca’ because he’s like a young Pogba, but also he is very, very intelligent – and that is his big potential. He is a top player, no doubt.
“Football trends change every year, every month, but Ilaix is here not because he is tall or strong, but because he is very good in every facet of the game.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
