Chelsea could be set to lose another transfer battle to Real Madrid. In the summer, the Blues tried to sign Dean Huijsen while he was still at Bournemouth, only for Madrid to swoop in and secure his signature.

Now, history may repeat itself. Both clubs are chasing Como’s attacking midfielder Nico Paz, and early signs suggest the Spanish giants are confident of getting their man.

Real Madrid confident, Chelsea still interested In Nico Paz

According to reports, Chelsea “love” Paz and see him as a potential solution to their attacking midfield issues. However, Real Madrid believe they are in pole position, given their past ties to the player.

Como are trying to remove Madrid’s buy-back clause by offering the 21-year-old a new contract. If successful, they could demand as much as €80 million (£69.7m) for the Argentina international.

That would represent a huge payday for the Serie A club, but it would also make Paz one of the most expensive young midfielders on the market.

Chelsea’s need for a new No.10 has only grown after missing out on Xavi Simons and Fermin Lopez. They did bring in Facundo Buonanotte on loan from Brighton last summer, but that was only ever seen as a short-term solution.

Nico Paz shines at Como

Paz is making a strong case for himself on the pitch. In just five Serie A appearances this season, he has scored three goals and provided three assists.

He has also been Como’s standout performer statistically, topping the WhoScored ratings for the club and averaging 3.4 key passes per match.

Cesc Fabregas has built his Como side around the young playmaker, and his vision and creativity have already marked him out as one of the most exciting prospects in Italy.

For Chelsea, he would bring a different dimension to an attack that has struggled for consistency.

The Blues, however, have to balance their pursuit of Paz with the development of Kendry Paez. The Ecuadorian wonderkid is seen as a future star at Stamford Bridge, and blocking his pathway could create long-term complications.

Still, with Real Madrid circling and showing confidence, Chelsea may face another painful setback in the transfer market. Whether they can convince Paz to choose London over Madrid could define their midfield rebuild next year.