Hansi Flick has been FC Barcelona coach since summer 2024 © Getty Images
According to media reports, Barça and Juventus are interested in the same transfer target. The view is supposedly of the island.
FC Barcelona and Juventus Turin are reportedly interested in Alejandro Garnacho from English record champions Manchester United. As the English tabloid The Sun has learned, the equivalent of 60 million euros would be needed to buy the South American out of his contract, which is valid until 2028.
It is doubtful whether Barça or Juve would invest a transfer fee of this magnitude. The Bianconeri are cash-strapped and were recently in the red amounting to almost 200 million euros. Nevertheless, manager Cristiano Giuntoli has hit hard on the summer transfer market.
For example, 55 million euros were invested in the signing of Douglas Luiz, who moved from Aston Villa to Piedmont. Teun Koopmeiners came from Atalanta Bergamo for 60 million euros. Wingers Nico Gonzalez from Fiorentina and Francisco Conceicao from FC Porto also joined the record champions, both of whom were initially loaned out. In total, Juve invested 160 million euros in transfers.
A large part of the expenses were covered by sales. The Bianconeri, among others, handed over Federico Chiesa to Liverpool FC. The Italian international brought in 15 million euros. Other players who sold the Old Lady: Samuel Iling, Moise Kean, Matias Soule and Kaio Jorge. In total, Juve took in 100 million euros on the summer transfer market. It seems unlikely that Juve will spend 60 million euros on a winger.
FC Barcelona also does not currently have this amount available. Last transfer summer, the Catalans brought in Dani Olmo from RB for 55 million euros. This meant that the budget was exhausted. Coach Hansi Flick would have liked to have had another experienced defensive midfielder in his squad, but the Catalans’ financial situation did not allow for another expensive external addition.
Alejandro Garnacho © Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock.com
If there is a larger budget for transfers in the coming transfer window, it can be assumed that strengthening the defensive midfield will be on the agenda first. The Catalans have not yet filled the gap left by Sergio Busquets’ departure to Inter Miami in the summer of 2023. Super talent Marc Bernal got off to a promising start in defensive midfield at the beginning of this season, but the youngster is out for the rest of the season with a torn cruciate ligament.
Nico Williams top transfer target from Barça for the wing
If the Catalans can raise almost 60 million euros for a new winger, Nico Williams is more likely to be on the shopping list. The European champion and friend of Lamine Yamal was supposed to move to Catalonia in the summer of 2024, but he decided to stay with his hometown club Athletic Bilbao.
Barça is said to have not yet written off the Basque’s transfer and, according to Spanish media reports, wants to make a new attempt next summer. Only if Williams turns down the Blaugrana again will Garnacho move up manager Deco’s priority list and could actually become a transfer target.
