Cagliari midfielder Nicolo Barella has emerged as one of Chelsea's key targets in the January transfer window, and the 21-year-old is being lined up as a replacement for Cesc Fabregas.
However, Chelsea are not the only Premier League club aiming to land the signature of the exciting young talent as Manchester United are also preparing a bid for Barella, who made his international debut for Italy in October.
According to Sky Sports, Maurizio Sarri is eyeing up a move for Barella in the next couple of weeks, and the deal could ignite if Fabregas secures his intended move to Monaco in Ligue 1.
Barella is under contract at Cagliari in 2022, but that hasn't stopped Manchester United sniffing around the young talent, but it's reported that United are only willing to offer £30m for his services, and they have launched a take-it-or-leave stance with Cagliari, who are sure to be tempted by the monstrous bid.
Nevertheless, Chelsea could be willing to seize the initiative and the Blues could have to spend in the region of £45m to secure Barella's services, and Sarri could well hijack United's quest for the Italian talent, and the Blues could are currently in pole position in the race for his signature.
Barella has made 20 appearances for Cagliari this season, scoring one goal, but he is sure to improve in the coming seasons and with Sarri, in particular, looking to shuffle the pack with his midfield options in January then they could be in the driving seat to secure the Italy international in the coming weeks, but United are certainly not out of the running in what could be a transfer saga that goes on and on.