Barcelona is set to rival Real Madrid for three world class midfielder when the summer transfer opens at the end of the current season.
Firstly, Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is keen to bring Paul Pogba to Santiago Bernabeu but according to report in Tuttosport says Barcelona is prepared to make £130million bid for the Manchester United midfielder.
Pogba fancies a move to Real Madrid following a poor campaign in Manchester United, which saw them miss out on a spot in next year’s Champions League.
Barcelona is willingly to offload Ivan Rakitic to fund the deal to sign Pogba but Real Madrid is in pole position to sign the World Cup winner.
Another player on Barcelona’s wish list is Griezmann. The Frenchman has told Atletico Madrid he will leave the club this summer, and it looks like Barcelona will finally get their man.
According to Sky sources, the Spanish champions are set to pay the Frenchman’s £108m release clause, who has scored 133 goals in 256 appearances for Atletico over five years.
Expect a huge unveiling, and even bigger weight on his shoulders as Barca look for European success again after four years of Champions League underachievement.
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One man who could follow Griezmann to Barcelona is 19-year-old Ajax skipper De Ligt.
De Ligt’s team-mate Frenkie De Jong has already agreed a move to the Nou Camp, and Mundo Deportivo have reported negotiations have progressed well with De Ligt and Barca, though a deal is yet to be agreed.
Asked about his future, De Ligt said: “There have been conversations, but there is still no agreement.”
A move seems probable for the wonder kid, who already has 115 appearances for Ajax under his belt, and a price tag of around £60m has been touted.
Ajax CEO, Edwin van der Sar said in May that De Ligt will go to England or Spain this summer, and Liverpool and Manchester United had been briefly linked, but the pull of Barca should be too much for the Premier League clubs.
Meanwhile, in a bid to raise funds for the signing of their summer targets, Barcelona will sell up to 10 players this summer according to Marca reports.
Ajax midfielder, Frenkie de Jong, is reportedly part of the potential summer arrival and he will be available with a £67million transfer fee.
However, Barca cannot splash over £250million this summer as the club have little in the way of funds to pay. This informed their decision to part ways with 10 players this summer, in a bid to rise over £200million.
Chief among the players expected to depart Camp Nou this summer is Philippe Coutinho, who has largely disappointed since his club record move from Liverpool 17 months ago, and the club wants at least £90million for the Brazilian.
De Ligt’s arrival means France’s World Cup-winning defender, Samuel Umtiti, will be allowed to leave.
Barca are ready to sell for £50million despite Umtiti having no intention of leaving.
Below is a video showing Lionel Messi in a training session for FC Barcelona.
A #Messi training session, through his own eyes👀
⚡ @Gatorade ⚡#MakeThemSweat pic.twitter.com/c4Y8cuqkIs— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 15, 2019
Samson Oyedeyi
