Barcelona transfer news and rumours today: Guardiola wants Barca target to continue at City

Barcelona transfer news and rumours today: Guardiola wants Barca target to continue at City

• Guardiola wants Julián Álvarez to continue at City

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  Manchester City striker Julián Álvarez has been linked with Barcelona as per multiple reports in the past few weeks, with the Catalans seeing him as a successor to Lewandowski.

  However, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is in no mood to sell the World Cup Winner to his former club, as he sees him as a striker who brings something different compared to Erling Haaland to the table, reports Fichajes.

  €80m price tag slapped on Youssoufa Moukoko

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  Barcelona were interested all of last year and at the beginning of this one in signing Borussia Dortmund starlet Youssoufa Moukoko for cheap or free next season before he extended his contract.

  Now, Fichajes reports that any club interested in signing the striker will have to dish out €80m for Borussia Dortmund to consider selling him.

  Barcelona still consider Moukoko as the ideal successor to current ace Robert Lewandowski, but in addition to the price tag will also have to face competition from Bayern Munich.

  Barcelona emerge as frontrunners for Tielemans

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  According to Fichajes, Barcelona are currently leading the race to sign Leicester City’s Belgian midfielder, Youri Tielemans. The Belgian’s contract is up in the summer and he will be available on a free transfer.

  Barcelona eyeing a move for Dortmund starlet

  Barcelona are keen on making a move for Borussia Dortmund’s starlet Paris Brunner, according to Sport. The Catalan side have been tracking him for some time and do not want to miss out on the talented youngster.

  Busquets waiting for an offer from Barcelona

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  Sergio Busquets is waiting to have some clarity from Barcelona regarding his future with his contract set to expire at the end of the season. According to Mundo Deportivo, the Blaugranas are eager to tie him down with a new deal.

  Barcelona in talks to sign Real Madrid winger Kubo

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  According to Spanish outlet AS, Barcelona are keeping a close eye on Takefusa Kubo’s progression at Real Sociedad and have contacted his agent to check his potential availability this summer.The Japan international spent his formative years in the Barcelona academy before a spell in Tokyo. He joined at Real Madrid but was sold to Real Sociedad after failing to nail down a first-team spot.

  Now, Barcelona coach Xavi wants to bring Kubo back to Camp Nou for his future project. The operation seems very complicated, with Real Madrid believed to hold the right of first refusal as well as a 50% sell-on clause in Kubo’s deal.

  Xavi ready to sanction summer fire-sale with all but six players on transfer list

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  Barcelona are reportedly planning for what could be a massive clearout this summer as they look to reduce their over-bloated wage bill to within €200m La Liga limit by next season.

  With the exception of six players, head coach Xavi Hernandez has also approved the sale of a few of big-name talents, including Ansu Fati, as reported by El Nacional.

  The Spaniard hasn’t been at his best form since returning from a lengthy injury layoff this season, and is said to be attracting interest from some top English clubs. Meanwhile, Xavi has declared six Barcelona players as untouchable.

  Those six players are Ronald Araujo, Pedri, Gavi, Jules Kounde, Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen, all of whom have played a pivotal role this season.

  Barcelona defensive target open to offers, race is still open

  Fabrizio Romano has provided an intriguing update on Ndicka’s situation, suggesting that the left-footed central defender is open to offers.

  There are multiple teams interested in his services, including Barcelona, and the race for his signature is still open.

  It was claimed a few days ago that Barcelona had reached a deal with Ndicka regarding a Bosman move in the summer and that the signing would be finalised around March.
• 00:10 – 23 Feb 2023

  AC Milan keen on signing Samuel Umtiti on a free transfer

  According to a report by Italian outlet Calciomercatoweb, AC Milan will look into landing central defender Samuel Umtiti in the summer transfer window if he departs Barcelona as a free agent.

  The reigning Serie A winner are in the market for a centre-back heading into the summer transfer window, and have identified the Frenchman as a potential alternative.

  AC Milan will not trigger €20m purchase option to sign Barcelona loanee Sergino Dest

  According to MARCA, AC Milan have not changed their plans on Sergino Dest. The reigning Serie A champions are not keen on keeping hold of the Barcelona and USMNT star, who joined the club on a season-long loan deal last summer.

  Dest’s loan deal included a permanent purchase clause worth €20m, but the Rossonerri do not intent to activate that option, because the American full-back has failed to impress coach Stefano Pioli and has dropped down the pecking order.

  Barcelona snubbed a €70m offer from Arsenal for Raphinha in January

  According to a new story from Alfredo Martinez on SPORT, Arsenal were very interested in signing Raphinha in January, and even lodged a reasonable offer in the region of €70m for the Brazilian.

  While the offer was economically sound, the Catalan outfit rejected the offer from Arsenal, with Xavi & Co. not convinced of the sale, believing that Raphinha has the quality to become an asset for the team, despite his early struggles since arriving at Camp Nou.

• 23:37 – 22 Feb 2023

  De Jong set to leave Camp Nou in the summer

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  Frenkie De Jong’s future at Barcelona is at a crossroads and the midfielder could leave Blaugrana in the summer amid financial crisis for the Catalan giants, with Manchester United still a viable option, according to Calciomercato.

  The Premier League giants were strongly linked with the Dutch midfielder throughout last year and they could finally land the 25-year-old this summer as they look to pounce upon Barcelona’s financial issues.

  The report adds that in order to keep De Jong at the Spotify Camp Nou, he would have to take a substantial wage cut, something the player doesn’t want to consider.

  Instead, the Dutch ace is giving serious thought to quitting the club at the end of the season, which makes a move to Old Trafford feasible this time around.

• 02:55 – 22 Feb 2023

  Barca president Joan Laporta met with Messi’s father to discuss potential return

  According to Catalan TV show Tot Costa, Lionel Messi’s father and agent Jorge Messi has already met with FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta to discuss several topics during the chat.

  As per the report, the first topic discussed between the two parties was the future of Messi and a potential return to the club, which will also hinge on a salary reduction made by Barça next summer and economic conditions set by La Liga that forces the Catalan club to slash their wage bill.
• 00:38 – 22 Feb 2023

  Barcelona set to miss out on Benjamin Pavard

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  According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are set to miss out on Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard, with the Frenchman now looking to extend his stay with the Bavarians.

  Pavard previously stated he is looking to move on to a new project, however, the report states that Barcelona’s inability to pay Bayern Munich’s asking price, along with his relationship improving with Julian Nagelsmann, have all led to him favouring to stay at Bayern.

  Barcelona trying to lure Dalot

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  Barcelona are keen on securing a right-back for the first team in the summer and have identified Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot as a potential target.

  According to a recent report from Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are keen on signing Dalot whose contract is up in 2024.

  Florian Wirtz willing to join Barcelona

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  According to SPORT, highly-rated Bayer Leverkusen talent Florian Wirtz will accept a move to Barcelona should they make a bid for him.

  However, the report states that it will be difficult for Barcelona to sign him in the summer due to their ongoing financial issues, and with Bayer Leverkusen likely to ask for a high price.

  Leeds United interested in signing Ilias Akhomach for free

  Sources have told ESPN that Leeds United are trying to sign Barcelona teenager Ilias Akhomach on a free transfer in the summer.

  The 18-year-old is yet to be convinced to sign an extension with the Catalans, and a move to the Premier League could well be on the cards for the Spaniard.

  Ansu Fati: “I hope to stay at Barcelona for many more years.”

  Out-of-favour Barcelona forward Ansu Fati doesn’t want to leave the club amid growing interest from Premier League clubs, with the 20-year-old stating that he wants to remain with the Catalans for “many more years.”

  “I’m under contract with Barcelona until June 2027 and I hope to stay here for many more years,” Fati mentioned in an interview with Jugones.

  Barcelona want Rodri to replace Sergio Busquets

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  According to Football Insider, Barcelona are hell-bent on signing Manchester City midfielder Rodri to replace legend Sergio Busquets in the summer.

  Busquets’ contract expires at the end of the season and could look to call it a day on his lengthy Barcelona career. Rodri is seen by the Catalans as the ideal profile to replace him, and the report states that they are willing to pay £80m for the 26-year-old.

  Barcelona to renew Xavi’s contract at the end of the season

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  According to SPORT, Barcelona will offer Xavi a contract renewal after the current season ends.

  Xavi has been a revelation for the Catalans ever since he was appointed as manager in the 2021-22 season, helping them win the Supercopa de España last month. They are also on course to win their first La Liga title in four years.

  Xavi’s contract has just one more year left in it and the club wants the former captain to remain at the helm for the foreseeable future.