Fabrizio Romano delivers big update on Barca's Echeverri talks

It is not possible for Barcelona to pay Claudio Echeverri's €25m release clause at the moment, reports Fabrizio Romano.

The club initially planned to pay for the move in installments, but River Plate don't want the deal to go that way.

Echeverri would love to join Barca as soon as possible. The club's board members appreciate the player too.

'A differential player': Xavi all but confirms Barca's interest in Claudio Echeverri

Chelsea and City Group [the company that administers clubs including Manchester City and Girona] are also interested in signing the 17-year-old.

Claudio Echeverri is an Argentine supertalent who has enjoyed a memorable campaign at the U17 World Cup. His stats for Argentina's youth side are something else – 13 goals and 5 assists in 22 games for the U17 team.

The River Plate starlet usually plays as an attacking midfielder, although he can also play in more advanced positions upfront.