Vinicius Junior could soon be moving on from Real Madrid, and Chelsea are said to be 'frontrunners' for his signature alongside Manchester City, according to Football Insider.
GIVEMESPORT understands he has told president Florentino Perez that he doesn't want to renew his contract while his relationship with head coach Xabi Alonso remains frayed, placing numerous suitors on red alert.
The forward has made 18 appearances this season, scoring five goals, but is unhappy with the number of games he has completed. He also reacted furiously after being taken off during Real's 2-1 victory against Barcelona in El Clasico in October, and, despite Alonso's insistence that there has not been a breakdown between them, Vinicius is not happy with his current situation.
Saudi sides are circling for his signature, and a staggering five-year contract worth a total of €1bn - or €250m per year - has been tabled, which would make him the highest-paid player in world football. But he has not made a concrete decision on his future, and this has somewhat left the door open for the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea to pounce.
Chelsea Want Vinicius Jr
Enzo Maresca blow a kiss to Chelsea supporters
Both City and Chelsea have been identified as frontrunners should Vinicius indeed leave Real, according to Football Insider.
Talks over a contract extension have stalled at the Bernabeu in recent weeks, the 25-year-old having taken exception to Alonso's handling of the row, and that has raised the prospect that he could move to the Premier League next summer.
Vinicius' current £425,000-a-week deal is set to run down in 2027, and Madrid could look to offload him at the end of the season instead of losing him for nothing the following year. As such, he is rumoured to have been slapped with a bargain £80million price tag.
Chelsea are on the hunt for attacking reinforcements despite their impressive form this campaign, and it would make sense if City were also in the hunt. Pep Guardiola's side have been too reliant on Erling Haaland, after all. When he doesn't score, they typically drop points.
Vinicius Jr Move a No-Brainer for Chelsea
Vinicius Jr
At first glance, it seems odd that the Blues appear to be pushing for Vinicius when they are stocked with talented wingers. Alejandro Garnacho impressed against Barcelona while Pedro Neto has also stepped up this season, and can also play out on the left. Jamie Gittens, while raw, has also taken strides forward under Enzo Maresca and looks like a real talent.
Add the wonderkid Estevao into the mix, too, and the decision to move for Vinicius becomes even stranger. However, the latter is a 'world-class superstar' - as dubbed by Luka Modric - capable of singlehandedly changing games, and he looks ready-made to light up the Premier League.
Snapping him up is a no-brainer.
He has made 340 appearances for Real, scoring 111 goals and registering 89 assists. Over his seven years at the club, he has won everything, including the Champions League twice. Surely, then, it is time for him to take on a new challenge - and if he replicates even a shade of what he has produced in Spain, he would become a hero at Stamford Bridge.
Xabi Alonso Reacts to Real Madrid Dressing Room Rumours
Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso looks on from the touchline
Ahead of Madrid's pulsating 4-3 win against Olympiacos in mid-week, Alonso was questioned about how he handles the ego of superstars, but was hesitant to go into any great detail on player power.
I’ve worked with great players and personalities, who are demanding. Their reactions help them to be as good as they are. That’s the luck of being at Madrid, you have players of this calibre. You have to be connected with them.
You have to have a lot of respect for the players and the groups, and how they prepare. I don’t want to and I’m not going to talk about that.
I know what the dressing room is like, the moments you have to go through and live with the external noise. We try to manage it and talk about it, these are situations that happen at this club and we mustn’t let them make us lose focus.
For now, he remains in control at the club, and he will need to keep it that way or risk his squad turning against him.