Real Madrid have reportedly joined the battle with Barcelona and English Premier League side Manchester United for Sporting Lisbon winger Gelson Martins.
The 21-year-old, who can play on either wing, was earlier this month reported to be a target for Jose Mourinho, with the Manchester United boss ready to pounce come the end of the season.
However that plan was set to change as British tabloid newspaper the Daily Express picked up on the report via Portuguese newspaper Record confirming Barcelona's interest.
Barcelona's international director of sports Ariedo Braida has stated: 'He`s a young player with a lot of talent who Barcelona are observing and will continue to observe.
'We have reports on various players and Gelson is one of them.'
Those comments gave the impression that if Manchester United were seriously interested, then they no longer had the benefit of time to put a move together.
With additional reports that the Portuguese club are unwilling to match his £9,000-a-week demands, it appeared to be an ever evolving situation with his €60 million release clause, the only hurdle to January move.
But now, Spanish newspaper Marca have picked up on a new report from Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha that Real Madrid sent scouts to watch Martins in the UEFA Champions League against Borussia Dortmund.
A switch across the border could, though, be on the cards given that Real Madrid and Barcelona are both interested in signing the player who has a 60 million euros buy-out clause the report added.
