Chelsea ready to hijack Barcelona’s transfer pursuit for Spain wonderkid with Catalan chiefs at loggerheads over deal

CHELSEA are ready to continue their recruitment strategy of snapping up young talent by entering the race for 18-year-old Real Valladolid right-back Ivan Fresneda.

ESPN report the Blues are ready to rival Barcelona for the signature of the Spain under-19 international with Valladolid wanting between £6.3 and £8.5 million for the defender.

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Fresneda was a bright light in last season’s Valladolid side that got relegated from LaLiga[/caption]

Barcelona had been favourites for Fresneda’s signature but manager Xavi appears to be at loggerheads with the board over the deal.

Xavi favours bringing in an experienced top-level player in the position and wants the club to sign Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo.

The Barca boss reportedly also favours a move for former Spurs defender Juan Foyth to help address the club’s shortcomings at right-back over a move for Fresneda.

But new sporting director Deco wants Fresneda as he looks to build a Barcelona team for the future.

The discordance between sporting director and manager has opened the door for the likes of Chelsea, who see Fresneda as a player with a lot of potential.

The Blues will reportedly pounce on a move for the Spaniard if the player is keen on a move.

Portuguese clubs are also keen on a move for the now Spanish second division player with Porto, Benfica and Sporting CP all circling.

Chelsea’s interest in Fresneda comes after captain and first choice right-back Reece James suffered yet another injury setback.

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The England man missed the majority of last season with a knee injury and looks to be facing injury hell again after tweaking his hamstring against Liverpool last week.

The club fear that James could be looking at months rather than weeks out of the team.

Promising French defender Malo Gusto is expected to start at right-back in place of James during their trip to West Ham tomorrow.