Chelsea will have to battle two teams to secure deal for £21m Italian playmaker

Manchester City and Manchester United will fight it out with Chelsea to sign Roma playmaker Lorenzo Pellegrini, according to the Mirror‘s Chief Football Writer John Cross.

The 21 year old has been consistently linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge over the past year, and the Mirror say that the midfielder’s £21m buyout clause is the reason behind the increased interest in the player.

Back in October, Italian newspaper Leggo outlined the terms of Pellegrini’s release clause, following his permanent move from Sassuolo in the summer.

By default, the fee set is €30 million (£26.5m) but that depends on the Italian playing 45 minutes in a minimum of 20 games this season. If he doesn’t meet the minimum number of games, €1.5 million is taken off the €30m for every game below that number. So far, he he has played 13 games that qualify which places his actual release clause at €19.5m or £17.2m, slightly below what the Mirror says.

In any case, it seems Pellegrini is available at a very reasonable price, although whether the Blues will consider a bid for him after signing Ross Barkley for £15m, it remains to be seen.