Barca try to see off Chelsea with €30m bid for Brazilian playmaker

Barcelona have made a €30m offer for Gremio midfielder Arthur, according to Gaucha ZH.

The Brazilian website reports that the 21 year old is also interesting Inter Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco, but Catalan publication Mundo Deportivo says that Chelsea and Manchester United are also looking to sign the player.

Gremio have however reportedly turned down Barca’s initial bid for Arthur. The Brazilian club reportedly want €40m for their 60% share of the player (valuing him at €66.6m – £58.65m in total).

The huge disparity in valuation means negotiations for the player will be drawn out, and that could lead to Chelsea and other interested parties taking advantage of the situation.

Gremio are reportedly unwilling to let the player leave this month with a move likely to happen in the summer. This would suit Barcelona as they currently have three non-EU players in their squad, and can’t add a fourth. Whether such an arrangement is acceptable to the Blues, we will have to wait and see.