Manchester United and Arsenal target Thiago Almada is set to leave Velez Sarsfield this summer, with the Argentine Primera Division side admitting it will be impossible to keep the in-demand attacker.
The Gunners and United are among a number of European clubs to be interested in the 19-year-old, who has been called the next Lionel Messi.
Manchester City and Atletico Madrid have also been credited with an interest in the player.
United's interest should be of note to Chelsea, with reports suggesting that the Old Trafford side will look to go after Almada if they are unable to secure Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.
That means the latest admission from Velez Sarsfield could well provide a boost to the Blues' hopes of signing Sancho.
United hold links with Velez Sarsfield, with former defender Gabriel Heinze departing the club as manager in May following a successful three years in charge.
Representatives at the Argentine club now admit it is impossible to keep Almada, but have promised to be strong at the negotiation table, revealing that there has also been interest from Italy.
ESPN spoke to a member from Velez Sarsfield’s board who said: "There’s no way to hold him.
"To all the offers that are seen in the media, add one from the local market and two from Italy.
"We’re going to wait for the market to open so that we know what is real and who’s asking, and we’ll be as serious at the negotiating table as we have been since this administration began."
The playmaker recently signed a new contract at Velez Sarsfield but, with a £22million release clause, it seems unlikely that he will stay there past this summer.
