Brazilian star will cost £40m

Sao Paulo have reportedly set their asking price for highly-rated midfielder Lucas Moura, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool all said to be chasing the teenager's signature.

The 19-year-old is regarded as one of the finest young talents currently operating outside of European football, and has been linked with a number of the continent's top clubs.

Inter Milan, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been credited with interest in Lucas while, according to Metro, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have also joined the race for the young Brazilian.

However, it is claimed, should any club formalise their interest in Lucas, they will have to part with around £40 million in order to prise him away from Sao Paulo.

Such a fee is unlikely to prove too much of an issue for Chelsea, although they will have to clear the decks somewhat before entering the market, with the Financial Fair Play regulations set to hit spending.

Manchester United, meanwhile, would have to break their transfer record in order to bring Lucas to Old Trafford, and whether or not Sir Alex Ferguson would take that gamble remains to be seen.

Liverpool have also been linked with Lucas in the past and, like United, a deal for the Brazil international would be a new transfer record for the Anfield club.