Chelsea will have competition from three other clubs in the race to sign Benfica midfielder Julian Weigl, according to Foot Mercato.

The French website does not name the teams in question, but they say one of them is another Premier League side, with the other two being German and French clubs.

Weigl has worked with manager Thomas Tuchel before at Borussia Dortmund and reports in the English press last week said that the 25-year-old is one option the Blues are considering if they can’t sign either West Ham’s Declan Rice or Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni.

Benfica head coach Jorge Jesus would like to keep Weigl, after an excellent season for the Portuguese club, although it is believed that financial pressures may force them into selling up.

The German international is said to have a €100m (£86m) release clause but he is expected to be sold for a price significantly below that figure.