Manchester City will rival Barcelona for Dani Olmo's signature as the reigning Premier League champions step up their interest in the Euro 2024 winner, according to reports.
The 26-year-old has been tipped to depart RB Leipzig this summer after impressing during the national team's victorious silverware run and has perked the interest of several top European sides.
City have been relatively slow movers in the transfer market so far, with Brazilian star Savinho the only player to join so far, but are now plotting to make their move for Olmo, as reported by Foot Mercato.
Barcelona have been trying to negotiate a deal for Olmo and his national team-mate Nico Williams following Euro 2024 but are yet to finalise any deal as they try to find an appropriate repayment structure.
The Nou Camp club face the prospect of needing to sell players to raise the £50m that Olmo's previous exit clause was set at and the Bundesliga side are expected to be open to selling for a similar fee.
However, Man City don't face the same financial limitations and are now attempting to beat Barcelona to Olmo with the player yet to make any concrete decision on his future.
Pep Guardiola is carefully scrutinising the types of players that can improve his side after they won the Premier League title for a fourth consecutive season but were beaten in the FA Cup final and failed to retain the Champions League.
Olmo could fit that profile and remains available after Barcelona's initial proposal of paying £34m with a further £16m in additional repayments was rejected by Leipzig who aren't facing any pressure to sell.
Barcelona have already had a proposal for Olmo rejected as they try to find an appropriate repayment structure
City would likely be able to pay the entirety of the fee upfront and also represent an attractive proposition for Olmo who impressed with eight goals across all club competitions last season before starring at the European Championship.
Olmo was one of the tournament's best players at Euro 2024 and scored three goals in back-to-back knockout games against Germany, Georgia and France before starting the final versus England.
The winger has three years remaining on his existing contract with Leipzig and could choose to ignore a return to boyhood club Barcelona where he originally came through the LaMasia academy.
He is currently on an extended summer break following Spain's trophy triumph, but could fly out to link-up with City in America if a deal is struck before they return to play Man United in the Community Shield.