and are both trying to hijack Barcelona’s deal for Brazilian teenager Vitor Roque and have put forward eleventh-hour rival offers, according to reports.
The 18-year-old, who has seven goals in 13 appearances in Brazil’s Serie A this season, had been expected to complete a transfer from Athletico Paranaense to Camp Nou this summer.
with both the player and the club but have been unable to complete the deal and register Vitor Roque due to La Liga’s salary cap rules.
The Catalan club agreed a fee worth an initial €35million (£30m) with Paranaense months ago but need to offload players and trim their wage bill before he can join.
According to , that delay has opened the door to United and Chelsea, while French champions Paris Saint-Germain are also looking to capitalise.
Contact has been made with the teenager’s entourage and both Premier League clubs are trying to convince Vitor Roque to backtrack on his agreement with Barca.
He has only verbally agreed a move to Camp Nou and neither the club nor the player have officially committed to the transfer, meaning he is still free to discuss a move elsewhere.
Sport are claiming that United, Chelsea and PSG have all made it clear to Athletico that they would be prepared to offer a bigger fee than Barca.
The offer on the table from the Spanish champions is worth £30m plus £7m in add-ons and bonuses, which will be paid over the course of three years, but the rival bids are willing to go higher and pay the fee in fewer instalments.
They are also prepared to offer Vitor Roque significantly more lucrative terms and up the fee that his agent would receive for the deal.
The youngster has an agreement in principle over a £3m-a-year deal with Barca – around £57,000-a-week – but Chelsea, United and PSG could triple that salary and offer closer to £8.5m-a-year, or £160,000-a-week.
That may seem like an astronomical salary for such a young player, but Vitor Roque comes with an enormous reputation and is being billed as Brazil’s next big talent.
Barcelona are aware of the rival offers but remain confident of wrapping up the deal, with the teenager’s preference being a move to Camp Nou, and he has given his word to the Catalan club that he will ignore any rival offers.
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