Only a little while ago, reports emerged claiming that superagent Jorge Mendes had approached Barcelona with a proposal to swap Ansu Fati for Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves plus cash.
However, by this point, it has been well-established that Neves is a player that does not convince the Barça coaching staff entirely, despite Mendes constantly offering the Portuguese international to the club.
There are genuine doubts within manager Xavi Hernandez and his staff about whether Neves can perform as the single pivot midfielder, the role that Sergio Busquets currently essays.
Instead, as reported by Toni Juanmarti, it is Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat that generates the most consensus at Barcelona as an option to reinforce the pivot position.
Indeed, the 26-year-old midfielder is seen as the best option by Barcelona’s coaches and sporting directors.
Amrabat was close to signing for Barcelona during the January transfer window, but Fiorentina ended up blocking the move as they did not wish to lose a key player.
The Moroccan international, who was one of the most impressive players at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, has continued to be on Barça’s agenda and could be allowed to leave in the summer.
While the Blaugrana also admire Martin Zubimendi, they see his signing from Real Sociedad as impossible this summer. After him, it is Amrabat who generates the most consensus within the club.
However, any operation to sign the Moroccan midfielder will be dependent on the kind of Fair Play margin that Barcelona generate. A move would only be considered if the Catalans have enough space on their wage bill.
Busquets’ decision on his future could also end up playing a role in whether Barça prioritise the signing of a new pivot midfielder or not, as they have several other positions to strengthen as well.
All in all, it promises to be a tricky summer for Barcelona and it remains to be seen how they go about things given their FFP issues.
