Barcelona will bid £50 million to try and beat Chelsea to Juventus midfield sensation Paul Pogba. The Camp Nou club have identified the Premier League leaders as their only credible challengers in the race to lure Pogba away from Serie A.

That’s according to Catalan newspaper SPORT (h/t MailOnline writer Oliver Todd). The newspaper claims Pogba has even “listened” to an offer from the La Liga giants, but he is still mulling his future in Turin.

Pogba has established himself as the essential cog in the Juventus midfield. The 22-year-old has hit nine goals and four assists in all competitions this season, according to WhoScored.com.

But it’s the France international’s combination of natural strength and creative flair that is enticing for every top club in Europe. Pogba offers pure power in the middle, while also possessing trickery, guile and an eye for goal.

No wonder then that Chelsea have been linked with a potential move worth £74 million, with Blues midfielders Oscar and Ramires maybe even going the other way, per The Telegraph’s Matt Law.

But perhaps it isn’t the Stamford Bridge club Barca should fear most. B/R’s Matteo Bonetti believes the Catalan club’s archrival, Real Madrid, are the most likely winner of the race for Pogba‘s signature:

Neither Los Blancos nor Chelsea would have to make Pogba wait the way Barca would. The current La Liga table toppers can’t welcome any new signings until January 2016, under the terms of a FIFA-imposed transfer ban.

But that shouldn’t stop the club from pulling out all the stops for Pogba. He’s a complete midfielder, unlike any player currently plying his trade at the position for the Catalans.

But Pogba‘s arrival may not be the only shakeup of Barca‘s midfield.

 

Pedro to be Swapped for Mateo Kovacic

A team so often defined by pint-sized playmakers in the middle could be lining up their next. Barca reportedly plan to utilise little-used forward Pedro to convince Inter Milan to sell Croatian creative ace Mateo Kovacic.

Sport Mediaset (h/t talkSPORT) reports Barca are keen on the diminutive schemer who’s also attracted interest from Bayern Munich and Manchester City. Kovacic certainly possesses attributes suited to Barcelona’s stylish passing game.

He’s intelligent, technically sound and imaginative on the ball. Kovacic is a natural No. 10 who may soften the blow of Xavi Hernandez’s potential exit to Qatar.

Even Andres Iniesta will be 31 years old before this season finishes. Adding the 20-year-old Kovacic would prompt a necessary refresh of the midfield.

Pedro should certainly be enough to tempt Inter manager Roberto Mancini into a sale. He’s been a forgotten figure this season as Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr. and Luis Suarez have formed a truly awesome front three.

But Pedro is still a classy finisher who uses pace and some of the best movement in the game to seize on scoring chances. His agent recently indicated the 27-year-old could consider his options at the end of this season, per Metro’s Vaishali Bhardwaj.

If he’s no longer a feature of their plans, Barca should use Pedro to help land a precocious young playmaker who can redefine their midfield.

Speaking of redefining things in the middle, that’s just what Pogba would do. No battle to sign him will be won easily, but Barcelona would certainly regret seeing him end up in Madrid.

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