Paul Pogba transfer news: Barcelona join the race for the 21-year-old Juventus star

Chelsea, PSG and Real Madrid are also interested in the French midfielder

Barcelona are the latest club to join the race for Paul Pogba's signature (Getty Images)

Barcelona are preparing to make a £144 million move for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, a Spanish newspaper has reported.

The Catalan publication Sport say that the Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu is determined to reach a preliminary agreement with a view to a transfer in January 2016.

Bartomeu has tasked the club's international sporting director Ariedo Braida with laying the groundwork for the move, and an approach to the player's agent Mino Raiola has reportedly already been made.

Completing such a deal would be a major coup for Bartomeu with Barcelona's presidential elections taking place this summer, although he faces stern competition for the player's signature from Chelsea, PSG and Real Madrid.

However, even if a pre-transfer agreement is reached, there is no guarantee that Barca will be able to complete the deal. In 2003, Joan Laporta became club president on the back after making a high-profile promise to bring David Beckham to the Catalan giants. Beckham ended up joining Barca's rivals Real Madrid instead.

Pogba has become European football's hottest property after impressing for Juve since joining on a free transfer from Manchester United in summer 2012 but the Italian giants remain reluctant to sell, while the player has not publicly requested a move.