AC Milan and Chelsea Battle for Barcelona Defender

Italian giants AC Milan are reportedly stepping up their pursuit of Barcelona defender Gerard Martin, but face stiff competition from Chelsea for his signature. According to reports from "El Nacional," both the Rossoneri and the Blues are showing strong interest in Martin. The Italian side is said to be prepared to significantly increase their offer to secure the services of the highly-rated defender.

Milan's initial bid was reportedly €20 million, but the club is now willing to table an offer of up to €35 million to bring the Spaniard to San Siro. This intensified interest in Martin underscores Milan's determination to bolster their defensive line, which showed vulnerabilities in their first pre-season friendly. In that match, Ruben Amorim's side drew 2-2 with Celtic, conceding two goals due to unconvincing defensive displays before salvaging a draw in the second half. This clearly signals that strengthening the backline is a top priority in the transfer market.

Chelsea also holds a strong interest in the player but has yet to make an official offer. The Stamford Bridge outfit has been highly active in the transfer market, having already completed a record deal for Morgan Rogers and secured the signings of Marco Palestra and Giovanni Kenda. They are also expected to finalize the transfer of Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace in the coming days. Blues management is reportedly banking on the anticipated sale of Trevoh Chalobah to fund their move for Gerard Martin.