Boca Juniors star Wilmar Barrios has opened up about his future.
Boca Juniors midfielder Wilmar Barrios has told Clarin that if he does move on, he only intends to make a switch after the Copa Libertadores.
Barrios, 24, has become a key part of the Boca side since joining from Deportes Tolima in 2016, impressing with his combative nature in the middle of the park.
The Colombian international subsequently featured for his country at the World Cup in Russia this summer, and he is attracting major interest in the summer transfer window.
Clarin report that Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are looking to bring Barrios to England, but the strongest move so far has come from Everton, as they are the only team to have made formal contact about a deal.
Boca won’t want to sell Barrios, but with three Premier League clubs keen – and one seemingly already in contact about a move – his departure seems to be a foregone conclusion.
However, the timing of the move is the next subject of discussion, as Boca will be playing in the Copa Libertadores for the coming months, and that could run until November if they advance all the way to the final.
Boca and even his teammates have been asking Barrios to stay until after Boca’s Libertadores run is over, and Barrios himself has suggested that he could wait.
Barrios has told Clarin that if he does leave, the plan is to go after the Libertadores, and with an €18million (£16million) release clause in his Boca deal, he may well force teams to wait until January for his arrival.
“It is possible that an offer may come and president Daniel Angelici has been clear, if something arrives it will be analysed and the idea is that I will leave after the Libertadores,” said Barrios, leaving Chelsea, Everton and Spurs to think about whether they want to wait or move onto other targets who can join immediately.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
