Signing a replacement for Sergio Busquets was one of the main objectives for FC Barcelona in this summer transfer window, but this objective has not been met yet. The club has considered a number of options for this position but is now nearing the procurement of one of these candidates.
According to SPORT, this candidate is Oriol Romeu, who already has everything agreed with the Catalan club. Barcelona are also in highly advanced negotiations with Girona for his purchase, and the transfer can be effectively closed in the coming few hours.
If the two clubs come to an agreement, this operation will further enhance the ties between the two Catalan clubs, and also bring Romeu to the club where he was developed and grew. He trained at La Masia from 2004-2011, and made his debut with the Barcelona first team in the 2010-11 season, playing one game in La Liga and another in Spanish Super Cup.
The player has had a highly varied career, as he joined the Premier League side, Chelsea, after leaving Barcelona. He then returned to La Liga with Valencia but left after only one season to join German side Stuttgart. His career saw greater stability at Southampton, where he remained for seven seasons, and returned to La Liga only the last season when he joined Girona.
He was one of the leaders in the Girona team last season, but now Xavi sees him as the replacement of Sergio Busquets, who left Barcelona at the conclusion of the last season. While the Catalan club has also been linked with more high-profile players, their financial constraints make Romeu the most viable candidate currently.
The soon-to-be 32-year-old would become the potential fourth signing for FC Barcelona in this window, after Ilkay Gundogan, Inigo Martinez, and potentially Vitor Roque. He is expected to join the pre-season camp, and will also be a part of the tour to the USA, as Xavi will be looking to incorporate him into the squad as fully as possible before the season starts.
