Leicester City have joined the battle to secure Internacional midfielder Charles Aránguiz, according to reports.
The Leicester Mercury, citing other sources, claims that the Premier League outfit have placed a bid of around €15 million, which is believed to be the highest offer made for Aránguiz so far.
Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen are said to have submitted a bid of €11 million, while Marseille’s offer is around €13 million.
The report suggests that Aránguiz’s preference is a move to Leverkusen and even though their General Manager Michael Schade claims personal terms have been agreed with the player, there is no guarantee that he will be joining the North Rhine-Westphalia based outfit.
Aránguiz’s contract, which expires in June 2018, is not completely owned by Internacional. Group DIS, a third party, control 50%.
That means that they have a say in his next move, should he leave Internacional, and it is reported by the Leicester Mercury that talks have already happened between Group DIS President Roberto Moreno and Internacional representatives over bringing him to Leicester.
To make that happen they would have to buy out Inter’s 50% stake and also convince the player to turn down the advances of Leverkusen and Marseille.
Whether Aránguiz would be willing to do so is unclear, with the midfielder’s stock at a career high.
After joining Internacional from Universidad de Chile in August 2014 for a reported fee of €6.4 million, the 24 year-old has established himself as a standout performer in the Brasileirão.
His form at international level with Chile during the 2014 FIFA World Cup and this summer’s Copa América, which La Roja won on home soil, has also further elevated him.
With Internacional being knocked out of the Copa Libertadores de América at the semi-final stage earlier this month, his future seems increasingly uncertain and a move to Europe is likely before the summer transfer window closes.