FC Barcelona is targeting the signing of a Champions League and Euros winner who currently plies his trade in England, according to SPORT.
Barca pulled off a major coup last year when convincing Ilkay Gundogan that he should continues his career in Catalonia.
The German international was on the verge of captaining Manchester City to a historic treble.
Yet despite having a bigger offer on the table to renew with the Abu Dhabi-backed club whose first team is managed by Blaugrana legend Pep Guardiola, the Catalans’ fellow La Masia graduate managed to persuade Gundogan to join the La Liga champions on a free for less money.
Gundogan has been a roaring success in Barca’s midfield thus far, and one of the few stars in the center of the park that has been a constant and not affected by injuries.
With Gavi ruled out for the rest of the season in November thanks to an ACL tear, Xavi’s strongest possible midfield has consisted of the German sitting in front of Frenkie de Jong and partnering Pedri.
In recent weeks, though, Barca’s shortage of options, plus De Jong’s struggles sometimes in a more defensive position, have meant that center back Andreas Christensen has been the pivot supporting the Dutchman and Gundogan while Pedri operated as a false left winger.
Crushing injuries to both Pedri and De Jong in Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Athletic Club in Bilbao will force a rethink from Xavi.
In next week’s vital Champions League last 16 second leg clash with Napoli and beyond, for anything between four and six weeks, Xavi is likely to throw Fermin Lopez in to form a duo with Gundogan as seen in October’s El Clasico loss to Real Madrid as Christensen keeps his place.
Barca needs to look at the big picture beyond the business end of the current campaign, however, with Xavi stepping down on June 30.
The club’s precarious financial predicament means that big signings can’t be made unless big sales are.
This development will push Barca towards picking up free transfers again. And according to SPORT, Arsenal’s Jorginho is a target.
With the Brazil-born Italy midfielder’s contract expiring in just under four months, Jorginho will soon be available for nothing.
Barca Sporting Director Deco would prefer not to sign a player over the age of 30, but until the renovated Camp Nou is ready, he might have to look at snapping up players that Xavi’s successor can get a good season out of until the club is in healthier economic shape.
