Liverpool and Manchester United have been handed a blow in their efforts to sign Junior Firpo after Barcelona opened talks with Real Betis over a move for the left-back.
The Premier League rivals were both said to be keen on signing the defender this summer after he impressed for Spain as they won the European Under-21 Championships in Italy.
Barca, however, have also been interested in the 23-year-old for some time and believe he could be a quality back-up to first-choice left-back Jordi Alba .
And Marca report that the La Liga heavyweights have opened talks with their divisional rivals over a deal that would see them pay less than Firpo's €50m release clause.
Betis expect their defender to depart this summer and have already signed a would-be replacement in Alfonso Pedraza on loan from Villareal.
Barcelona are keen to add an able deputy for Alba having been without one since Lucas Digne left to join Everton last summer.
The Spanish side had reportedly eyed up a move for Filipe Luis, a free agent after leaving Atletico Madrid, but that deal fell through owing to concerns over the 34-year-old's ability to last a season.
That has left boss Ernesto Valverde turning his attentions to Firpo instead and there is a belief the 23-year-old could prove to be Alba's long-term successor.
News of Barcelona opening talks with Betis about a deal for the full-back will be a blow for both Liverpool and United, who had hoped to sign the promising youngsters themselves.
Jurgen Klopp's men had hoped to use Firpo to provide back-up for Andy Robertson, with the Reds without a second-choice full-back following Alberto Moreno's departure this summer.
The Red Devils, meanwhile, thought the 23-year-old could provide meaningful competition for England international Luke Shaw at left-back over the course of next season.
