Report: Real Madrid eyeing a move for Barcelona's prime target
What's the rumour?
According to Spanish media outlet, Marca, Real Madrid are set to battle Barcelona as they join the race to sign Bundesliga talent, Luka Jovic.
In case you didn't know...
With 15 goals and 6 assists in the Bundesliga, Jovic is one of the breakthrough talents of this season so far. The 21-year-old Serbian sits third in the scoring charts behind only Robert Lewandowski and Marco Reus.
Jovic's performance in the Europa League is remarkable as he has racked up 7 goals and 1 assist. There is no doubt that he is one of the most sought after sharpshooters in Europe at the moment.
Known for his composure on the ball and calm nature in front of goal, the youngster has been a revelation for Frankfurt since moving to Germany last season. Jovic is currently on loan at Frankfurt from Benfica, with an option to buy for €8 million at the end of the season.
The heart of the matter
Barcelona are currently in the pole position to secure the services of Luka Jovic but they are not the only interested suitors of the Bundesliga ace.
According to the report, Barcelona officials traveled to watch Jovic over 20 times this season. They are scouting the player and courting his agent for a long time which gives them an advantage. The Blaugrana want to reach an agreement with Frankfurt as soon as they can but the German side is well aware of Jovic's rising value in the market.
As a result, both Frankfurt and Jovic are not in a hurry to wrap the transfer at the moment. Real Madrid met with the player's agent last week to discuss about Jovic and other top clubs across Europe are also interested to secure his services.
Rumour rating: 6/10
It is an open secret that Jovic remains the most widely chased players in the market due to his potential. Marca are a reliable source when it comes to LaLiga news, so there is no reason to doubt this report.
What's next?
Following the International break, Real Madrid will host Huesca as Barcelona take on Espanyol this weekend in the LaLiga.