The plans of FC Barcelona for the upcoming summer transfer window have already taken shape, and now the execution phase of these plans is upon the club executives. One of the most important of these plans is to bring in a new midfielder who can play the pivot role.
The club has outlined a number of candidates to bring in this summer window and strengthen their midfield, while the signing of a midfielder has also been made essential by the departure of Sergio Busquets. From among these several candidates, Joshua Kimmich and Martin Zubimendi stand out as the preferred options for the club.
However, both of these players would be extremely hard to get this summer. Real Sociedad has put a fixed price on the midfielder, i.e. his release clause, which is set at €60 million, and have eliminated any possibility of involving a player swap in the midfielder’s deal.
The La Real coach has also disclosed that the player wants to play in the Champions League as a Sociedad player next season, and Barcelona will have to convince him before making any moves in the market.
Similarly, Mundo Deportivo reports that the Catalan club also understands that a deal to get Kimmich will also be highly difficult this summer. The German has two years left in his contract at Bayern, and as the Bundesliga is yet to be decided, there are no contacts between Barcelona and Bayern for such a transfer.
Furthermore, FC Barcelona executives understand that Kimmich would not go to the extent that Lewandowski did to force his club into a sale. The player has huge respect for his long-time club and would not take any drastic steps to ensure his move to Catalonia.
Still, if the two clubs can come to an agreement, Kimmich will be open to a move to Barcelona. The player has not been at his best in Thomas Tuchel’s setup at Bayern Munich and is now considering a move to another club.
Thus, FC Barcelona know that these two operations will be extremely difficult. Owing to this uncertainty, the club is considering other names as well to keep their options open if one of these operations gets off track in the summer.
