FC BARCELONA
Xavi’s Barcelona dilemma in the transfer market: Zubimendi or Juan Foyth
The coach knows that the club can only make a big signing this summer, but he has two huge names on his list.
The latest meetings between Xavi Hernández, Joan Laporta and Deco have allowed the coach to begin to put into action some of his ideas for next season. In fact, their pre-season tour of the US is already confirmed. Among the topics of conversation around various dinner tables, as AS has been made aware, is the confirmation that the club’s room for manoeuvre when it comes to making big moves this summer is very limited due to financial fair play. So much so that Xavi has already been informed that only one major investment can be made, meaning that he will have to decide which position or player he prioritises most when building his squad.
In principle, there are two names on the table that the club need to pay full whack if they are to make to move to Spain’s north-east. The first player is midfielder Martín Zubimendi, and the second defender Juan Foyth. These are very similar operations, both in the cost of the transfer and the cost of the wages. Looking from the outside, pulling off such moves would cost around €60 million plus €5 million in wages.
Which players does Xavi want to sign this summer?
It must be remembered that Zubimendi has been on the Blaugrana coaches’ shopping list for more than a year, but Real Sociedad have always shown themselves to be an immovable object when it comes to entering into negotiations, taking cover behind the player’s release clause, set at €60 million. Xavi considers the Basque midfielder the player who would best adapt to the position of defensive midfielder and even more so now with Sergio Busquet’s confirmed departure.
Therefore, the name of Zubimendi has returned to the table of the Camp Nou offices over recent days, since the other option for the club, Moroccan midfielder, Sofyan Amrabat, is considered a valid alternative, but in terms of talent does not match the level of their first choice. The advantage of the Fiorentina player is that his departure could be agreed for a fee between €5-6 million, especially considering that his contract ends next season.
On the other hand, Xavi is aware that he needs to reinforce the right-back position, with the main reason being quite convincing: neither Jules Koundé nor Sergi Roberto are actually right-backs. Ronald Araújo has only been used occasionally to stop Vinicius in the games against Madrid, his preferred postition is also in the middle of the defensive line. Given this situation, Juan Foyth continues to be a priority for the coaches, and his release clause is less than that of Zubimendi: €54 million. Anything less and Villarreal are well within their rights to tell Barça to go Foyth and multiply.
As well as Foyth, there are indeed alternatives on the right side that could adapt to the style of the coaches, such as Manchester United’s Portuguese defender, Diogo Dalot, and Manchester City player, Joao Cancelo.
The ball is in Xavi’s court to decide who the priority is when it comes to pushing the financial boat out: Zubimendi or Foyth. What he does know is that it can’t be both. Over the next few days, the coach will give his verdict and the club will get down to work. The team can win LaLiga this weekend, so that would be step one.
