Report: Barcelona Have Practically Ruled Out The Signing Of €80 Million-Rated Midfielder Target
Barcelona have made it their topmost priority to sign a new pivot midfielder this summer to replace their departing captain Sergio Busquets.
Several names have been linked as possible targets but at the top of the wishlist are Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi and Joshua Kimmich of Bayern Munich.
A move for Zubimendi is pretty much ruled out as the player does not wish to leave the club this summer while he also comes with a €60 million release clause.
Now, RAC1 is reporting that Barcelona have also practically ruled out the signing of Kimmich from Bayern Munich.
The 28-year-old German international, whose market value stands at €80 million, is a player that manager Xavi Hernandez admires a great deal and the club officials also like.
To that end, the Catalan giants had even made contact with Bayern Munich to explore the possibility of a transfer but were met with a firm refusal from the Bundesliga champions.
After all, the Bavarians see Kimmich as a key part of their project moving forward and even think of him as a future captain once the likes of Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller call time on their careers.
Meanwhile, Kimmich himself had dropped a hint recently that he is not looking for an exit from the Allianz Arena, when he said:
“I’m not very involved in rumours. As everyone knows, I still have two years left on my contract and we have big plans at Bayern.”
Given the situation, Barcelona are now understood to have practically ruled out the signing of Kimmich. However, they have more than one option lined up as possible alternatives to the German international in order to reinforce the No. 6 position.
Sofyan Amrabat of Fiorentina is one such alternative, while the Blaugrana are also looking at Florentino Luis of SL Benfica and Joao Palhinha of Fulham as options as well.
