Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly set to steal a march on Chelsea for Ilaix Moriba, who is valued at around €20 million by Barcelona.
According to a report by Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Tottenham Hotspur have moved quickly in pursuit of Ilaix Moriba. The north London giants have already agreed personal terms with the Barcelona midfielder, thereby hijacking Chelsea’s move for the player, who has a €20 million price tag.
Ilaix Moriba’s Barcelona career has gone pear-shaped not long after making his breakthrough in the first-team setup. Widely regarded as one of the most promising young midfielders to have emanated from La Masia in recent years, the 18-year-old has come at loggerheads with the Catalan club over the terms of a new deal.
With his current Barcelona contract set to run out in a little under a year’s time, the teenage midfield ace appears to have played his final game for the Blaugrana, having been banished to the reserves. However, despite his turbulent situation at Barcelona, there is no shortage of interest in Moriba, who is a target for Chelsea and Tottenham, among others.
The interest from Chelsea is not too surprising, seeing as Thomas Tuchel has just three central midfielders at his disposal in the form of N’Golo Kante, Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic. With the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ross Barkley and Ethan Ampadu, among several others, not in Tuchel’s plans, and Billy Gilmour on loan at Norwich City, a new midfielder is the need of the hour.
To that end, Moriba is one of the options identified by Chelsea to bolster their midfield, with a bid in the works as well, as per recent reports. The Blues, though, are now facing stiff competition from rivals Tottenham Hotspur in pursuit of the Barcelona midfielder.
Tottenham, like Chelsea, have been linked with Moriba, whose representatives have held talks with just about every big club in the Premier League. Spurs’ interest in the 18-year-old makes sense as well amid the uncertainties surrounding Moussa Sissoko and Tanguy Ndombele.
With the French duo deemed to be surplus to requirements by Nuno Espirito Santo, Tottenham do appear to be in need of a midfielder, with Moriba a viable target. And now, the north Londoners seem to have stolen a march on Chelsea in pursuit of the 18-year-old, who has a €20 million price tag.
As per Mundo Deportivo, Tottenham have already agreed personal terms with Moriba, with a bid set to be presented soon as well. Chelsea, on the other hand, appear to have been left on the wayside, although it remains to be seen if they can do anything to usurp their London rivals in order to land the Barcelona contract rebel, possibly on a €20 million deal.
