Barcelona enter race to sign Batrakov

FC Barcelona have entered the race to sign Aleksey Batrakov, the playmaker from Galatasaray, amid competition from Liverpool, Arsenal, and Paris Saint-Germain, according to TEAMtalk.

Liverpool and Arsenal have intensified their interest in the 21-year-old Russian player after their scouts watched him score in Galatasaray's 4-2 victory over Lille in the Champions League. Manchester United, Chelsea, and Manchester City are also monitoring his situation.

Aleksey Batrakov has joined Galatasaray from Lokomotiv last August for €25 million, and his contract with the Turkish club runs for five years, including a release clause valued at around £50 million.

Despite Galatasaray's insistence on keeping the player and their satisfaction with his performances, the release clause opens the door for his departure. The same source indicated that FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain could represent attractive destinations for him, while the upcoming summer transfer window appears to be the most realistic time for the deal to be completed, despite increasing interest as January approaches.