Gio Reyna, U.S. stars on Barcelona's and Real Madrid's radar; Chelsea plotting Rice move

Barcelona's and Real Madrid's interest in rising MLS and USMNT talent headlines this week's ESPN's Insider Notebook. PLUS: Chelsea's squad overhaul continues.

Jump to: Chelsea maintain Rice interest | Kante edges to exit door | Solskjaer keeping faith with Maguire | Man Utd frustrated as clubs inflate transfer fees | Wenger rewrites history

MLS, USMNT talent on Barcelona's, Real Madrid's radar

With El Clasico a week away, Barcelona and Real Madrid are already battling off the field, with a cluster of U.S. prospects and established talent on both La Liga clubs' radars, sources told ESPN.

Real Madrid are tracking the progress of Borussia Dortmund's Giovanni Reyna, club sources confirmed, with the club aware of his potential as a gifted playmaker, and off the pitch as a marketable USMNT star-in-waiting. Reyna, 17, has caught the eye for Dortmund this season, recording a hat trick of assists in a 4-0 Bundesliga win over Freiburg earlier this month.

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Sources said Madrid are actively monitoring Reyna -- and will watch how he develops for club and country over the 2020-21 season -- and the same goes for a large number of talented youngsters of the same age as part of the club's extensive scouting department.

Madrid already have Martin Odegaard lined up as a long-term attacking midfield replacement for veteran Luka Modric, 35, as well as Marco Asensio, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo in wide positions -- and 18-year-old Brazilian Reiner, who joined Reyna at Dortmund this summer on a two-year loan deal.

While Madrid are casting an eye over Reyna, Barcelona are stepping up their scouting operation in the U.S. and Canada, with Brenden Aaronson, Gianluca Busio and Cade Cowell all under consideration, sources said.

Barca have closely followed the North American market for several years. In 2018 they signed Ballou Tabla from Montreal Impact, although he returned to the Canadian side permanently earlier this year. Since signing Ballou, Barca have extended their presence in North America and have received glowing reports on a number of young players making their name in MLS.

Aaronson, 19, is an attacking midfielder who completed a move to FC Salzburg from Philadelphia Union on Friday. He has already been capped by the USMNT and was named in the Best XI at the MLS is Back Tournament earlier this year. Busio, 18, is another player who has caught the eye. The Sporting Kansas City forward, who is of Italian descent, has already made 44 appearances in MLS and has been capped by the USMNT at youth level. Cowell, at 17, is the youngest player on Barca's radar. The California-born forward made his MLS debut for the San Jose Earthquakes earlier this year and scored his first goal for the club in a 3-2 loss against the LA Galaxy in August.

All three are being closely followed by Barca as they contemplate further adding to a growing American contingent at the club. They completed a deal worth up to €26 million for USMNT right-back Sergino Dest earlier this month, while U.S under-20 international Konrad de la Fuente has been regularly training with the first team. Elsewhere, there are two talented Americans in the club's U15 team: goalkeeper Diego Kochen and midfielder Adrian Simon Gill.

Aside from the talent emerging in the U.S and Canada, Barca have also targeted America as a key market for growth on a marketing and sponsorship level. They regularly play games there in the summer as part of the International Champions trophy and sources say they are already seeing the benefits of having Dest and De la Fuente at the club. -- Moises Llorens, Sam Marsden, Rodrigo Faez and Alex Kirkland

Chelsea plotting Rice move

Chelsea will look to sign Declan Rice in January if West Ham show signs of softening their stance in negotiations, sources told ESPN.

ESPN reported on July 7 that the Hammers were determined to keep Rice this summer despite the Blues registering their interest in him, and that position never changed throughout the summer window. Chelsea chose not to make any formal bid for Rice, 21, with West Ham demanding around £80m. They instead opted to commit £220m on strengthening other areas of their squad.

However, sources said Rice remains a top target for Frank Lampard and Chelsea would be willing to make a move in January if conditions allow. A deal is more likely next summer but West Ham's financial concerns are complicated. They are about to commit around £30m to sign Said Benrahma from Championship side Brentford but they are also exploring short-term funding options. Rice has a contract until 2024 and the player has not agitated to leave but the club may choose to cash in should wider circumstances create fresh pressures.

Equally, Lampard will need to make space in his squad. Rice is used by West Ham and England as a defensive midfielder, but Chelsea are attracted by his versatility to play at centre-back.

The Blues kept midfielders Jorginho and N'Golo Kante, in addition to centre-backs Fikayo Tomori and Antonio Rudiger, in the transfer window. At least one of those players would have to leave before Rice could be acquired but regardless, they remain actively on the case. -- James Olley