Upon the bittersweet departure of Barcelona Legend, Sergio Busquets, the Catalan giants are obliged to urgently navigate replacements in the transfer market. Several names have been put on the table, but finances currently remain the only obstacle.
Martin Zubimendi appears to be the ideal signing, with great consensus over his arrival by the technical staff and Xavi himself. However, the holding midfielder is out of Blaugranes’ budget.
Moreover, Zubimendi recently came out in an interview claiming wholehearted commitment to Real Sociedad. Thus alternatives like Sofyan Amrabat and Guido Rodriguez are other low-cost alternatives being discussed for Barcelona.
In addition to the aforementioned names, Bruno Guimaraes has entered the list of targets. According to Mundo Deportivo, the Premier League star is attracting significant interest from the Catalan giants, who are yet to finalize Busquets’ ultimate successor.
Guimaraes has enjoyed a spectacular season with Newcastle, filling in as the pivot and leading his side to a potential top 4 spot in the English League. The Brazilian has shown progressive aptitude as well as defensive diligence in midfield, which are crucial requirements to replace the legendary Busquets.
Nonetheless, fierce competition is expected for the upcoming sensation. European powerhouses, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain are expected to put in heavy bids for the player, given they lack players in that position as well. PSG, after moving on from Paredes, and Liverpool, having lost out on Bellingham, are unsurprising contenders for his signing.
Such competition is a natural deterrent for Barcelona as this will only inflate Guimaraes’ price. Additionally, the base price set by Newcastle is bound to be high, with the 25-year-old proving to be a huge asset for the English side.
While competition is expected and finances will need to be sorted out, interest in one of the Premier League’s best defensive midfielders does not come as a surprise. He will be considered a quality signing, if the move materializes.
