When something works, it’s best not to change it. That’s the philosophy of Barça ahead of the transfer market, which opens in a few weeks. The Azulgrana team has performed outstandingly this season, so the club is working to keep the squad that has brought so much success to the fans this season, mixing experience and youth. The club is working on sealing several renewals, but there is one piece they are looking for in the transfer market.
A left winger is their main target
This is nothing new. Barça has been looking for a left winger for several seasons. It is a priority for both coach Hansi Flick and Deco ahead of the transfer market.
Last summer, Athletic Club de Bilbao player Nico Williams was considered for this position. The club is looking for a player who is more capable of opening up the field and getting past opponents with skill in one-on-one situations and with speed and power, but also when static. Hansi Flick made it very clear in his last press conference of the season that this signing needs to be completed: “In recent games, we haven’t had many options for these positions.
Looking at players is Deco’s job, but I will help him,“ he said. Two of the main candidates are Luis Díaz, from Liverpool, and Rashford, from Aston Villa, about whom he had this to say: ”I don’t want to talk about players who are not in my team. But they are both fantastic, I like them and we’ll see what happens. They are fantastic.”
“Suddenly we feel very dependent on Raphinha and Lamine. Maybe we need similar players, a solution for them. The squad is quite balanced and we also have a lot of good things at the base,” said sporting director Deco, echoing the coach’s sentiments.
Luis Díaz and Rashford, main candidates
Among the names being sounded out by the Barça team, two stand out above the rest. The favorite is Luis Díaz, who is Deco’s weakness. The operation will not be easy, as his transfer fee is around 70-80 million euros. However, the possible arrival of Florian Wirtz at the English club would facilitate negotiations for a player who has not had the best of seasons as a false 9.
Further down the list of options is Marcus Rashford, who has repeatedly expressed his desire to play for FC Barcelona. His release clause has been set at €40 million, which would make him a more affordable option than Luis Díaz. Barcelona could also try to negotiate a loan deal with an option to buy, although the English club wants to secure a permanent transfer.
Two alternatives appear on the scene
The club is prioritizing the signing of Luis Díaz, but if that does not materialize, it could consider other options such as Kingsley Coman or Gabriel Martinelli, according to Diario Sport. Kingsley Coman (28) plays for Bayern Munich and is wanted by several of the biggest clubs in the Premier League, including United and Liverpool. Regarding the valuation, Sky Sports revealed that the Bavarian team would demand 50-60 million from Arab teams and around 40 million from European teams.
Martinelli plays for Arsenal and, according to the specialist website Transfermarkt, has a market value of €55 million. This season, he has played in 51 games in all competitions, scoring 10 goals and providing 6 assists in a total of 3,564 minutes played for Mikel Arteta’s side.