Manchester City and Chelsea are ready to do battle with Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez.
Martinez's agent Alberto Yaque has revealed that the race is now on to sign one of the hottest properties in football after four of Europe's top clubs declared their interest in the Argentine forward.
Yaque insisted that the 22-year-old from Bahia Blanca is happy in Milan.
But Martinez has a £97.5million buy-out clause in the five-year contract he signed when he arrived at the San Siro in a £20million deal from Racing Club in 2018.
Yaque said: “The truth is that apart from Barcelona, I received calls from Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City.
“There is nothing official at the moment because Lautaro is very good at Inter.”
Pep Guardiola wants to pair Martinez with his Argentina team-mate Sergio Aguero.
Frank Lampard believes the man capped 17 times for his country can add some firepower to an attack that has missed Eden Hazard.
Barca want Martinez to replace Luis Suarez, while Real are in desperate need of reinforcements.
Both Spanish clubs have made Neymar their No 1 target this summer – the covid-19 pandemic permitting – and are hoping to lure the Brazilian back to La Liga from Paris St Germain.
But Barca star Lionel Messi has already joined the charm offensive to lure Martinez to the Nou Camp.
Messi has been gushing in his admiration for his countryman.
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