Stamford Bridge side keen on Nou Camp youngster.
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Chelsea are set to join the race to sign Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara according to ESPN.
The 22 year old helped his Spanish Under 21 side retain the European Under 21 Championship title in Israel this month, scoring a hat-trick in the final, and is now strongly linked with a move to join Man United. However Chelsea are now keen on landing the Nou Camp youngster.
Alcantara is available for around £17m, the release clause set in his contract dramatically lowering due to a lack of first team action last term, and that’s a fee that Jose Mourinho would be more than willing to sign the talented Barcelona playmaker.
Chelsea have adopted a youthful transfer policy in the last 18 months, bringing the likes of Eden Hazard, Cesar Azpilicueta, Victor Moses, Oscar and Andre Schurrle, and clearly Alcantara would fit such a criteria.
Alcantara has made 98 appearances for Barcelona since making his debut four years ago, however most of these have come from the bench and the fact that stars like Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas are ahead of him in Tito Vilanova’s first team pecking order may well lead to the Spaniard’s departure from the Catalan club this summer.