Chelsea and Manchester United are reportedly trying to hijack Barcelona’s move worth €45 million for Vitor Roque.
According to a report by Spanish outlet SPORT, Barcelona might be in trouble in the race to sign Vitor Roque. Chelsea and Manchester United have tabled late offers to sign the 18-year-old striker. And with the Blaugrana yet to finalise the deal worth €45 million for the Athletico Paranaense ace, the two Premier League clubs have submitted lucrative contracts to him.
Vitor Roque is one of the hottest properties in the market after a memorable first year with Athletico Paranaense. The Brazilian wonderkid had hardly set any pulse racing in his career until April 2018. And while he was always highly rated, he did not fall into the category of someone like Endrick.
But the 18-year-old has done well to spin the narrative around him, particularly in the last nine months. And after guiding Brazil to the Under-20 South American Championships, he has been in fine form this season. And Vitor Roque’s tally of 15 goals and six assists in 30 appearances in all competitions is impressive. And the youngster’s progress has alerted many clubs, including Barcelona, Chelsea, and Manchester United.
Widespread reports have claimed that Barcelona and Athletico Paranaense have sealed the deal for the teenage sensation. The package is worth €45 million, with Barcelona shelling out a base fee of €35 million. But with the confirmation nowhere in sight, Barcelona might be setting up for a hijack from other high-profile clubs.
Chelsea keenly pursued Vitor Roque’s signature for a long time. But recent reports have claimed that the 18-year-old snubbed the West London club, as he had his heart set on joining Barcelona. But the Blues are not throwing in the towel yet. And the report points to Chelsea submitting a lucrative offer to the youngster’s entourage.
That is also true for Manchester United, with the club offering a bumper contract to the 18-year-old. Recent reports have claimed that the Red Devils have been in contact with Vitor Roque’s representatives. And after putting a lucrative deal on the table, Manchester United will hope to find an upgrade to Anthony Martial.
Apart from Chelsea and Manchester United, the Brazilian international also has a contract offer from Paris Saint-Germain. And all three clubs will likely offer him wages over €3.5 million per year. So it will be interesting to see if Barcelona can complete the deal worth €45 million to secure Vitor Roque’s services.
