According to reports from The Metro yesterday afternoon, Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid are all considering January swoops for Valencia left-back Jose Gaya.
The 20 year-old has emerged as one of Spanish football’s most exciting prospects over the last year, claiming the No.3 slot in La Liga’s 2015 Team of the Season during his first full term in the Valencia starting Xi.
That saw a host of clubs – including Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid – linked with the teenage defender during the summer, resulting in a new five-year contract at the Mestalla and the tripling of his release clause from £12.8million to just shy of £37million.
Jose Gaya’s form from 2014/15 compared to Chelsea and Manchester City’s current left-back options
According to The Metro, however, who cite Spanish publication Fichajes, that lofty price-tag hasn’t put off Chelsea or Real Madrid, who are now joined by Manchester City in the race to sign the Spain U21.
They claim all three clubs are considering January swoops for Gaya; Chelsea seemingly short of options in defence, Real Madrid yet to replace summer departure Fabio Coentrao and the Citizens eyeing long-term replacements for ageing duo Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolorov; and allege an ‘intense’ bidding war could ensue when the transfer window reopens.
Having penned new terms with Valencia just a matter of months ago, however – May, to be precise – it seems unlikely Gaya will be allowed to leave for anything less than his buy-out fee.
Also in the news:
Mr. Jinx is absolutely Dwight
Revealed: How poor timing cost Man United £6.5m this summer
Man United hope to beat Chelsea and City to England prodigy with £1m bid
Chelsea to return for No.1 target in January but face City and Barca
[ad_pod id=’video’ align=’center’]