Premier League duo Chelsea and Manchester City are set for a transfer scrap over Bayern Munich ace David Alaba.
The versatile Austrian international, a left-sided defender who can operate anywhere across the back, is a free agent in the summer after refusing a new deal with the German champions.
While Spain has long been Alaba’s preferred destination - with Barcelona and Real Madrid at the front of the queue - his wage demands are a serious stumbling block.
The two Spanish clubs are struggling financially amid the COVID pandemic and are unlikely to offer Alaba the £400,000-a-week contract he wants.
And that news has alerted the Premier League elite that he may be available come June, after all.
Chelsea are very much in the hunt for a quality defender and their German coach Thomas Tuchel is a big admirer of Alaba, 28.
The Blues would be prepared to come up with a package agreeable to Alaba, who is represented by Israeli super-agent Pini Zahavi.
But Manchester City are watching developments closely and, having tried to buy the player last summer, are certain to make an offer.
Although there is no way they would pay Alaba £400,000-a-week, as that would smash the Etihad pay-structure, the club's lucrative bonus scheme would help bridge the difference.