Gerard Pique Transfer Rumours: Latest News and Speculation on Barcelona Star

Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea are aiming to sign Barcelona centre-back Gerard Pique, according to the Spanish press.

As translated by Jonny Singer of the Daily Mail, Catalonia-based Sport reported that offers between €25-30 million have been submitted for the 27-year-old defender. MailOnline Sport tweeted an image of the Spanish publication's headline:

City are "desperate" to tie the former United defender down by January, according to the Daily Mail's article, which also suggests Manuel Pellegrini tried to sign Pique during the summer.

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Luis Enrique has utilised the World Cup winner during six of Barca's nine La Liga games this season, including in the recent Clasico loss to Real Madrid, where he was heavily exposed. The defender caused the penalty which allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to level proceedings with the Blaugrana's first conceded goal of the season, before struggling during the rest of the match.

Pique isn't the most decisive when direct players attack him with speed. Although useful with possession at his feet, the centre-back has a tendency to succumb to sloppiness during important moments. He has largely performed decently this season, making 1.5 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 6.5 clearances per game, as recorded by WhoScored.com. But he is yet to replicate the efficiency shown under Pep Guardiola.

The player knows he isn't showing his best form, as noted during an interview with Sky Sports:

Enrique recently indicated there is nothing to the rumours. When asked about Pique, he responded, "Every Barca players has to be able to handle rumours and the lies which appear in the press – players at big clubs require such a profile," per Santi Gimenez of AS.

Even so, La Liga specialist Jason Pettigrove suggested Pique was "out of his depth" during the Clasico, per his B/R UK column. He also noted Marc Bartra is "simply too good to play second fiddle for too much longer," while pinpointing Enrique's decision to sporadically bench Pique as a sign of his frustration with the player.

Pique is certainly built for the English game and could rediscover his form with a fresh challenge. United desperately need a player who can dominate aerially and maintain possession from the back without getting flustered. Jose Mourinho may be looking for a long-term replacement to John Terry and is known for deploying a number of experienced stalwarts in otherwise developing teams.

Pellegrini admitted his defence is a "concern" after watching City lose their last two matches, as reported by Sky Sports.

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Eliaquim Mangala hasn't settled like many would have expected and is proving erratic alongside Vincent Kompany. The powerful Frenchman has all the attributes to be a Premier League star, but his game is hampered with positional mistakes, and he is capable of costly errors (highlighted with his own goal against Hull City).

It may prove useful for Pique, his potential new suitors and Barcelona if a deal can be struck. There's no doubting the player's potential: He is among the best centre-backs on the planet when in form. But his application has to be questioned. A move abroad could kick-start the former Premier League youngster into taking more responsibility in his play.

Enrique would be brazen to sell him ahead of Barcelona's transfer ban, however, making a potential deal difficult throughout 2015. This could be the saving grace for the player's Camp Nou career, as right now, he is likely to be kept out of necessity, not through choice.