Barcelona to rival Chelsea for Russian youngster Arsen Zakharyan?

Barcelona and Chelsea are reportedly set to go head-to-head for the signature of Russian teenager Arsen Zakharyan next summer.

The 18-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Dynamo Moscow last term, claiming three goals and five assists from 13 appearances from the right-hand side and centre of midfield, winning the club's player of the season award in the process.

Zakharyan has also started the 2021-22 campaign brightly, registering a goal and three assists from seven games in the top flight, and his breakthrough has naturally attracted interest from top sides across Europe.

According to journalist Nobel Arustamyan, Barcelona and Chelsea are both hopeful of striking a deal for the two-cap Russia international, who was included in his nation's preliminary Euro 2020 squad before falling ill.

Arustamyan adds that Barcelona are aiming to beat the Blues to Zakharyan's signature by holding talks in the coming weeks, but Dynamo are yet to receive an official bid for the midfielder.

Zakharyan is contracted to Dynamo until the summer of 2024 and would supposedly command a €15m (£12.8m) offer in order to leave his homeland.