Chelsea's bid to land Cagliari midfielder Nicolo Barella could be put on hold until the summer - because the Italian international is set to become a father for the second time.
Blues' boss Maurizio Sarri has pinpointed the 21-year-old as the man to replace Monaco-bound Cesc Fabregas and has been urging the Stamford Bridge club to meet the £45million asking price.
But the fee Cagliari are demanding isn't the only stumbling block.
Barella's wife is almost six months pregnant and sources in Italy claim she has told her husband that she does not want to leave Italy until the child is born.
That could open the door for a Premier League bidding war at the end of the season.
Manchester United and Liverpool are also tracking the midfielder dubbed 'Sardinia's Steven Gerrard'.
But Sarri has tasked his assistant Gianfranco Zola to use his influence as a Chelsea and Italy legend to ensure that Barella follows in his footsteps to Stamford Bridge.
The combative Barella was born and raised in Sardinia, but loves English football and wants to experience the Premier League.
He has said: “If I had to choose between serie A and the Premier League, I'd go for England because I like the way they approach the game.
“Everyone there is just as irritable as me and are as prone to commit fouls as I am!”
It is that competitive streak that has convinced Sarri that he will be the perfect successor to Fabregas.
But Barella will need convincing that Chelsea is the best fit before moving abroad.
As well as family considerations, the midfielder has made it clear that the salary on offer is not as important as guarantees that he will go straight into Sarri's starting team.
When asked earlier in his career was his ambition was, the midfielder replied: “To have a nice garden.”
Cagliari are trying to get a deal in place during the January window – even if it means Barella staying with the Serie A club.
They have already lined up Boca Juniors' Uruguayan international Nahitan Nandez as a £16million replacement for Barella.
Nesaiknruy_Legend
38
There's 2 reasons. 1 is his child and the other is a possible lack of playing time with Kante and Jorginho solidified starters, that leaves a 4 way competition between him, RLC, Barkley and Kovacic. Mainly him and Kovacic and that's a tough battle. Barella would be an ideal Kova replacement if Madrid try retain him which 100% they will try.... Maybe like Pulisic, make a pre contract or something with a loan to cagliari till summer... cos Barella does want the move but game time and his wife are his main concerns...