BARCELONA
Gundogan: a priority for Barça’s midfield
The Catalan giants are working in their future squad and the Manchester City player is regarded as Xavi’s favorite option in midfield.
Barcelona will have lots of work this summer to sell and sign players, but the club’s management is already working to land a few new faces that should make their squad more competitive next campaign.
Xavi Hernández’s men won the Spanish Super Cup and, if nothing strange happens, they will also lift the LaLiga trophy, as they are commanding the standings 13 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid with 10 games remaining.
However, their early elimination in the Champions League first and the Europa League later was a bitter pill to swallow for the Catalans and the club presided by Joan Laporta wants to come back to winning ways in Europe.
However, it will be a hard ask for Barça to find top players who will end their relationships with their clubs this summer. Even if that’s the case, Els Blaugrana will probably have to deal with difficult negotiations to convince the player, especially taking into consideration that their future in Europe next season is on hold due to the Negreira case.
If the situation wasn’t complicated enough for Barça, they will have to make $217m in cutbacks before they can sign new players, which means they will be forced to get rid of quite a few players.
It was recently reported that the five-time Champions League winners are thinking of finding a departure for at least six footballers, which include the likes of Ansu Fati, Raphinha, and Ferran Torres.
Gundogan, experience and creativity
Xavi is aware that some changes are needed in the team and also in midfield to be competitive in Europe, as Sergio Busquets is already 34 and Franck Kessie could leave the club this summer.
Ilkay Gundogan, who had been on Barça’s radar in the past, has become one of Xavi’s favorite options, as he’s seen as a technical player with lots of experience in Europe and he would come as a free transfer if The Citizens don’t renew his contract.
The 32-year-old Turkish international is one of the most important players for Pep Guardiola, with five goals and four assists in 40 games for City this campaign.
Although it’s unlikely the club will offer him the same conditions he has in Manchester, Barça will make an effort to get him an attractive wage.