Chelsea face competition for Porto full-back Alvaro Pereira

Alvaro Pereira (GETTY IMAGES)

Chelsea’s pursuit of Porto full-back Alvaro Pereira is now believed to be a four horse race.

It was revealed last week that Napoli were rivaling Roberto Di Matteo for the Uruguayan international’s signature, but Italian TV station Sky Sport 24 has now announced that it believes Juventus and Paris St. Germain are also in the race.

Andre Villas-Boas was thought to be planning to take Pereira with him when he joined the Blues last summer, but the transfer never took place.

Chelsea are prioritising the right-back position this summer and are believed to also be looking at Inter Milan’s Maicon as a replacement for Jose Bosingwa.

Maicon would be a cheaper option, as the Brazilian’s contract expires in a year, and he is thought to be available for around £6m. However at 31-years-old he would only be a short-term solution.

26-year-old Pereira is a far younger option but would probably only be available for his release clause that is set at £24m.

With regards to his future the fullback is quoted as saying to Sky Sport 24: “I do not know what will happen."

"I'm still in South America and when I return to Portugal I have to talk with Porto to decide on my future. But for now I am player of Porto."