Manchester United are in a three-way battle with Arsenal and Chelsea for the signature of Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets, who is reportedly considering his future at the Camp Nou.
Busquets is right up there when it comes to the best midfield anchor men in the world, and it seemed like the Spain international would spend his entire career at Barcelona, having risen up from the youth ranks at the famous club.
However, that could all change according to the Daily Express, with Busquets reportedly pondering on a move away, much like Victor Valdes did at the end of last season.
Valdes, despite Barcelona's best efforts, decided to leave the club at the end of his contract, in what he said was for a new challenge, and even if the goalkeeper has not found a new club – due to a long-term knee injury – he is expected to sign on the dotted line with Manchester United, where he is currently training.
Busquets could take a leaf out of Valdes' book, according to the report, and look for pastures anew with the English Premier League the most likely destination, even if the likes of Bayern Munich, who are managed by the midfielder's former coach Pep Guardiola, and PSG have also shown an interest.
The penchant for play-acting apart, Busquets is one of the best deep-lying midfielders in the world, able to make the right interceptions and tackles with his wonderful reading of the game.
Manchester United are in need of such a player in their lineup, and bringing in Busquets could fill in the final piece of that puzzle that Louis Van Gaal is trying to build at Old Trafford.
Arsenal are another team in desperate need of a player like Busquets, even if Arsene Wenger might struggle to match the transfer fees and wages that the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United will put forward.
While the Blues do not exactly need Busquets in their lineup – they have an authoritative midfielder in Nemanja Matic in that position – Jose Mourinho will not shrink away from the chance of strengthening his team further, especially if a player of Busquets' quality were to become available.
However, all of that remains conjecture, as Busquets has not so far even hinted at a possible exit from Barcelona, and with the La Liga club looking to get back into their groove of winning titles by the dozen, it remains unlikely that they will allow a key player like Busquets, who has three-and-a-half years still remaining on his current contract, to leave.
