Chelsea recently dispatched scouts to watch 23-year-old Argentine international Joaquin Panichelli in action for Ligue 1 club RC Strasbourg.

According to a report by Caught Offside, Joaquin Panichelli is the subject of interest of Chelsea. Barcelona, Manchester United, and Aston Villa are also keen on signing the RC Strasbourg striker. However, the Blues are the front-runners to secure the Argentine international’s signature, with the West London club also recently sending scouts to monitor his progress.

How has Joaquin Panichelli fared in Ligue 1?

Joaquin Panichelli has established himself as one of the most eye-catching strikers in Ligue 1 since joining RC Strasbourg from Deportivo Alaves this past summer. The South American attacker hit the ground running at the French club, and he has scored ten goals in only 1,367 minutes of game time across 19 appearances thus far.

Meanwhile, Panichelli’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs. Barcelona, Manchester United, and Aston Villa have joined the race to sign the Argentine international. However, they are behind Chelsea in the battle for the 23-year-old striker’s signature, with the West London club also recently sending scouts to track his progress.

A man in demand

Aston Villa recently joined the race to sign the RC Strasbourg striker. The West Midlands club’s interest is understandable, as Ollie Watkins has not been at his best this season. So, Unai Emery can do with an alternative to the English international, with Panichelli a viable target. As for Barcelona, Robert Lewandowski is in the twilight of his career.

The veteran Polish striker has also entered the final 12 months of his contract. So, Joaquin Panichelli has emerged as a viable target for Barcelona. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s interest in the RC Strasbourg centre-forward makes sense, as Joshua Zirkzee’s long-term future is uncertain. So, Panichelli can be an alternative to Benjamin Sesko if he joins Manchester United.

However, Barcelona, Aston Villa, and Manchester United are behind Chelsea in the race to sign Panichelli from RC Strasbourg. The Blues have extensively scouted the 23-year-old striker, and their relationship with the Ligue 1 club from being in the same ownership group leaves them in an advantageous position.

However, while Chelsea may be in pole position to land Panichelli, it will be surprising to see Aston Villa, Barcelona, and Manchester United throwing in the towel already. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for the Argentine international.