Barcelona are holding on to their 21-year-old forward despite receiving loan offers as they explore new signings. The club is considering a move for Federico Chiesa while keeping an eye on their budget and squad adjustments.
Barcelona is keeping the 21-year-old forward for the time being, despite receiving loan offers
Barcelona must finalize squad decisions in the next ten days, considering possible departures and new arrivals. Several players’ futures at the club remain uncertain.
Ansu Fati is one of those players. The 21-year-old Barcelona talent began the pre-season under Hansi Flick but injured himself before the US tour. There’s currently no timeline for his return.
Despite his injury, SPORT reports that Barcelona retains him while they search for a left-winger. The club has recently been linked with Federico Chiesa and Rafael Leao as potential targets.
The report also notes that Fati understands he may need to go out on loan to secure regular playing time if Barcelona brings in a new left-winger. This summer, a permanent transfer is off the table unless it’s from a Saudi Arabian club. Fenerbahce is another potential destination, but the player is not keen on moving to either of those countries.
The 21-year-old forward has several loan options, with Sevilla, Benfica, and Wolves all showing varying interest levels. However, Fati’s preference for a potential move is not yet clear.
Barcelona aims to reduce wages while ensuring Fati gets the playing time he deserves. Hansi Flick has expressed his willingness to ‘wait’ for the Spanish international to recover and resume training.
The German coach values the Barcelona youngster, which could lead the club to keep Fati for this season. However, given the strong competition in attack, it’s uncertain whether he will get enough playing time. Barcelona fans are eager to see the 21-year-old return to his best form, so it will be interesting to watch how this unfolds.
Sources say Barcelona is contemplating signing Federico Chiesa
Sources told ESPN that Barcelona is considering a move for Juventus’ Federico Chiesa as they race to secure a new winger before the transfer window closes.
At 26, Chiesa has become one of Barça’s top targets to bolster their attack, thanks to his interest in joining and Juventus’ readiness to let him go.
At the start of the summer, Barcelona’s primary target was Spain and Athletic Club winger Nico Williams, and they have also been linked with AC Milan’s Rafael Leão.
However, the high costs of potential deals for Williams and Leão have led Barça to seek more affordable alternatives.
Williams, who shone for Spain during their European Championship win in July, has a €58 million ($64.5m) release clause. Meanwhile, sources have informed ESPN that Milan demands €100 million for Leão’s transfer.
Conversely, Chiesa is separate from the plans of the new Juventus head coach, Thiago Motta. Barcelona has been allowed to sign him, with Juventus open to offers of around €15 million since his contract expires next year.
The Italian international’s career has stalled since he sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the beginning of 2022, sidelining him for 11 months.
He came back in the second half of the 2022-23 season. Last year, he made 37 appearances for Juventus, scoring ten goals and securing a spot in Italy’s Euro 2024 squad.
Despite this, a source has indicated that Chiesa must pass a thorough medical examination before Barcelona commits to any potential transfer.
Any potential deal will also depend on the club’s financial situation. Dani Olmo, a summer signing from RB Leipzig costing €55 million, has not yet been registered with LaLiga because Barça exceeded its annual spending limit.
Ilkay Gündogan’s upcoming transfer to Manchester City should allow Olmo to be registered before Saturday’s match against Athletic at the Olympic Stadium. However, additional departures may be required before the club can bring in more new players.
Vitor Roque, Clément Lenglet, Eric García, and Ansu Fati are among those who might depart before the transfer window closes.
If those transfers go through, Barça will pursue a left winger. However, Williams—who was President Joan Laporta’s top target—and Leão are currently beyond their budget.
Besides Chiesa, Kingsley Coman is also considered a potential budget-friendly option. The France international is available to leave Bayern Munich for a lower fee this month, and sources suggest that other alternatives might also be explored.
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