Barcelona Transfer News Roundup: Catalans in contact with Bundesliga star, club open to Vitor Roque sale, and more - July 18, 2024
Barcelona finished second in the league last season 10 points adrift of champions Real Madrid. Hansi Flick has been roped in to get them back on track next campaign.
Meanwhile, the Catalans are in contact with the agents of a Bundesliga full-back. Elsewhere, the Spanish giants are willing to offload Vitor Roque this summer.
On that note, let's look at the major Barcelona transfer stories from July 18, 2024.
Barcelona in contact with Jeremie Frimpong
Barcelona are in touch with Jeremie Frimpong's agent, according to journalist Gerard Romero. The Catalans are working to improve their squad before the start of the new campaign.
A new right-back is also on their agenda, with Joao Cancelo their preferred candidate for the job. The Portuguese spent last season on loan at Camp Nou from Manchester City and was quite impressive.
However, bringing him back this summer appears complicated, as City are holding out for a permanent deal on their terms. There's already interest in the player from Saudi Arabia, which is jeopardizing Barcelona's attempts to script a second loan deal.
The situation has forced the La Liga giants to consider their options and Frimpong has emerged as an option. The Dutchman was outstanding last season for Bayer Leverkusen, registering 14 goals and 12 assists from 47 games across competitions.
The player's agent is already in touch with the Catalans to discuss a potential move this summer. However, the player's €40m release clause could pose a problem to a deal.
For now Barcelona are focused on securing Nico Williams and their priority is to sign Joao Cancelo on loan. Frimpong, as such, is not a priority right now.
Catalans open to Vitor Roque sale
Barcelona are ready to cash in on Vitor Roque this summer, according to SPORT. The Brazilian forward, brought to eventually replace Robert Lewandowski at Camp Nou, has failed to impress since arriving in January.
Vitor Roque struggled to break into Xavi's starting XI, registering two goals from 16 appearances last season, most of which were from the bench. With the Spanish manager gone, it was initially believed that the 19-year-old's fortunes would improve.
It was also reported that Hansi Flick will assess the player in pre-season before making a decision regarding his future. However, it now appears that the Catalans have already made up their mind amid interest from Saudi Arabia.
The La Liga giants are pushing to secure the services of Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams and are looking at player sales to raise funds. It is believed that the Brazilian's departure would help Barcelona make a significant profit on the €30m they paid for the player.
Dani Olmo opens up on his future
Dani Olmo has remained coy about his future. The Spanish midfielder has seen his stock rise following an impressive Euro 2024. Olmo was called into action following Pedri's injury in the quarterfinals against Germany.
The 26-year-old responded brilliantly, rising to the occasion and helping La Roja lift the title. He registered three goals and two assists from six games, finishing as joint top scorer in the tournament.
Barcelona are reportedly on the list of his admirers as well. Hansi Flick is apparenly a fan of the Spaniard and wants him at Camp Nou.
Speaking recently, as cited by Barca Universal, Olmo insisted that he has already made a decision on his future.
"The people who handle these matters already know what I want. I want to be in a place where I am valued, and the fundamental thing for me is to win; I am very ambitious. There are several options, and the people who handle my affairs know what I want, as I said,” said Olmo.
Olmo is under contract with RB Leipzig until 2027 and is expected to cost around €60m.