West Ham United to fight Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham for Barcelona’s £19.5m-rated defender

West Ham United are reportedly ready to join Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham in the race to sign Spain international defender Marc Bartra, according to Don Balon (via This Is Futbol).

The Premier League side; who currently sit fifth in the standings respectively, only two points behind fourth-placed City, are interested in securing the services of the FC Barcelona centre-half this summer.

The 25-year-old, who has six international caps for his country, has scored one goal and provided one assist in 22 appearances for the La Liga giants so far this season.

Bartra; who graduated through Barca’s highly rated youth academy, is thought to have a release clause of around £19.5m, although the Catalans are prepared to part with the out-of-favour defender for around half of that amount.

Slaven Bilic’s Hammers are chasing a top four finish in the Premier League with only nine games remaining, trying to secure UEFA Champions League football at the Olympic Stadium next term.