Barcelona have stepped up their pursuit of Kai Havertz as they look to pip Europe's big guns to the Bayer Leverkusen wonderkid's signature.
German midfielder Havertz is expected to be one of next summer's hottest transfer properties after admitting that he may be willing to depart the club for pastures new at the end of this season.
The 20-year-old has previously been linked with interest from Manchester United and Liverpool as well as Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund.
And now Barcelona and Real Madrid are believed to have joined the race to sign Havertz, who is contracted to Leverkusen until the summer of 2022.
According to Mundo Deportivo , Madrid see the highly-rated star as their third-choice midfield target behind Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek.
That could seemingly hand the advantage to Barca, who sent scouts to watch him in Germany's 4-2 defeat to Holland in the last international break, in which he made a half-hour cameo from the bench.
And it was concluded by Barca scouts that he "is the best young footballer in Germany", a glowing report that has no doubt increased their desire to land the Leverkusen star.
The Nou Camp club may have to break the bank to land the midfielder as Leverkusen are believed to be holding out for a £90million fee.
Havertz suggested this summer that this season could well be his last with Leverkusen.
He said: "I am happy to stay at Leverkusen for one more year. What happens next summer will be experienced in the future."
The midfielder scored 17 goals in the Bundesliga last season and has three to his name so far this campaign.
