Pep Guardiola wants Man City to hijack Chelsea bid for Riechedly Bazoer

Posted Friday, February 26, 2016 by ESPN

Pep Guardiola wants Man City to hijack Chelsea bid for Riechedly Bazoer
Riechedly Bazoer has shone brightly for Ajax, and now Chelsea are reportedly nearing sealing the 19-year-old's signature.

The Mirror reports that Pep Guardiola wants Manchester City to hijack Chelsea's move for Dutch wunderkind Riechedly Bazoer. The Premier League champions, who are reportedly poised to make Italy boss Antonio Conte their new manager for next season, are already in advanced talks with Ajax over a £24 million move for the 19-year-old midfielder. Bazoer's brother Irchandley, who acts as his agent, was at Chelsea's Cobham headquarters last week for talks with technical director Michael Emenalo.

But Guardiola is also a fan of the teenager likened to the legendary Frank Rijkaard because of the teenager's maturity in midfield and would like to see him at the Etihad, where the current Bayern Munich boss takes over as manager in the summer. Ajax have already rejected a £20m bid for Bazoer from Napoli, while Chelsea themselves have twice tried to sign him in the past only to be told he wants to go to Barcelona.

Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink, however, was technical adviser at PSV Eindhoven as the teenager came through the club's academy. The Dutchman is his hoping his relationship with the player helps to stave off City's interest and finally deliver the player to Stamford Bridge in the summer. After vacating his post as Holland head coach last year, Hiddink urged his successor Danny Blind to select Bazoer for the national squad.