Chelsea have been watching Espanyol youngster Nico Melamed and are ‘willing to pay’ to sign him this summer.
That’s according to Gianluca di Marzio, who reports that the Blues are one of several big European sides ready to make their move for the midfielder this summer.
Melamed has impressed in Segunda B for Espanyol’s B team this season, scoring seven goals in 27 games thus far.
He has also made his Europa League debut, making a 34 minute cameo in the Spanish side’s 3-0 win over FC Luzern back in August, and featured for Spain’s Under 19 side back in January.
This has all attracted the interest of big sides in Europe, according to Di Marzio, and Chelsea are among those following him.
He claims that they, alongside the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, have ‘followed him (Melamed) closely’ in the last few weeks and are ‘ready to pay for him’.
Di Marzio insists that it ‘cannot be ruled out’ that they move for the 18-year-old, who has an €8m release clause in his contract, in the summer.
That’s a price Chelsea could easily afford and it’s not surprising to learn they are interested, with them known for snapping up young talent across Europe for years.
That strategy has taken on added significance with Frank Lampard at the helm, though, as he’s shown a willingness to not only blood that talent but rely on it. Perhaps Melamed will be the next to benefit from that faith.
