Barcelona keen to tie up three promising academy players to ward off interest from Premier League giants Manchester City and Chelsea
Jordi Mboula, Marc Cucurella, both 18, and Carles Alena, 19, are considered hot property — and are attracting major interest
BARCELONA are keen to tie three promising academy prospects to long-term contracts and ward off Premier League interest, according to reports in Catalonia.
The famous La Masia has failed the Nou Camp giants in recent years, with little elite talent emerging since the crop which stormed to two Champions League successes under Pep Guardiola.
However, Jordi Mboula, Marc Cucurella, both 18, and Carles Alena, 19, are considered hot property.
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And report Barcelona are keen to tie the trio down to improved contracts.
Cucurella is considered the most urgent of the three to tie down, despite his willingness to stay with the club.
Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham and Everton among the interested parties, and the starlet’s contract runs out at the end of June.
The bushy-haired left-back looks a little like a young Carles Puyol, and even has the same first name.
Mboula, has admirers across Europe’s biggest leagues and seen as the biggest star.
The winger already has a release clause of £4.3m and has scored twice in four appearances for Spain’s Under-19s.
He is contract runs out in June 2018.
Meanwhile, Alena, is a midfielder who shot to prominence following a super goal against Roma in the Uefa Youth League back in 2015.
He already has one first team appearance under his belt, and Barcelona have begun negotiations over an extension to his contract which currently runs until next June.
Barcelona’s Under-19s side won their league at a canter.
However, the trio were unable to celebrate as all three went to England with the Spain U-19 squad for the 2017 European Championship Elite Round.
And played during the during the 3-0 defeat to the Young Lions.