Barcelona Transfer News Roundup: Catalans suffer Joshua Kimmich blow, club not prioritizing move for French ace, and more - July 7, 2024
Barcelona are working to improve their squad after finishing second in La Liga in the 2023/24 campaign. The Catalans ended the season without silverware and have replaced Xavi with Hansi Flick to change their fortunes.
Meanwhile, the Spanish giants have suffered a setback in their efforts to secure the services of Joshua Kimmich. Elsewhere, the Blaugrana are not pushing to sign a French midfielder who is available as a free agent this summer.
On that note, let's look at the major Barcelona transfer stories from July 7, 2024.
Barcelona suffer Joshua Kimmich blow
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have entered the race to sign Joshua Kimmich this summer, according to AS. The German midfielder has entered the final year of his contract with Bayern Munich and hasn't signed a new deal yet.
Barcelona are long-term admirers of Kimmich and Hansi Flick is looking for a reunion with his former player this summer. However, there's considerable interest in the 29-year-old this year, with the Catalans already battling Manchester City for the player.
The Parisians have now entered the fray and are ready to take Kimmich to Ligue 1. Luis Enrique is a huge fan of the German and wants the player in his squad ahead of the new season.
The Ligue 1 champions are already in touch with the 29-year-old's camp to reach an agreement before taking up the matter with Bayern Munich. The player could be available for €30-40m this year.
Catalans not prioritizing move for Adrien Rabiot
Barcelona are not prioritizing a move for Adrien Rabiot at the moment, according to journalist Alex Pintanel. The French midfielder is available on a Bosman move following the expiry of his contract with Juventus.
Rabiot enjoyed a decent 2023/24 campaign with the Bianconeri, scoring five goals and setting up three more from 35 games across competitions. The 29-year-old is in his prime and recent reports have suggested that the Catalans have him on their wish list. The La Liga giants want a new pivot midfielder this year and Rabiot fits the bill.
However, the club have balked at the Frenchman's €8m-per-year wage demands. Barcelona are grappling with financial issues and cannot afford to spend lavishly on players this summer. As such, they have put a move for Rabiot on hold and remain focussed on securing Joshua Kimmich, who is the priority for the position.
Former player advises Barcelona to sign Nico Williams
Barcelona legend Tente Sanchez has advised the club to complete a move for Nico Williams this summer. The Spanish forward has emerged as a priority target for the Catalans following an impressive 2023/24 campaign with Athletic Bilbao.
Williams registered eight goals and 19 assists from 37 appearances for the club, establishing himself as one of the most feared attackers in the league. He has followed that up with an impressive run at Euro 2024 so far, generating widespread interest in his services.
Arsenal and Chelsea are also hot on his heels, but recent reports have suggested that Barcelona have already agreed personal terms with the 21-year-old. However, the player apparently has a €58m release clause in his deal, which is posing a problem for the Catalans.
Speaking to SPORT, Sanchez insisted that his former club should consider offloading Raphinha to get a deal across the line.
“Before thinking about signing Nico Williams, Barça must be on par with Rule 1:1 (rule). I consider him a very good player, and I say this very clearly, he is proving it alongside Lamine Yamal. They are young, daring, and have the level,” said Sanchez.
He continued:
“Nico could play in a top-level team without any problem. If there’s a chance to sign him, I would sign him. I’ll go further: if there’s a possibility Raphinha could leave and we can get some money, I’d sign Nico. When I watch a match with both of them playing, I pay more attention to Nico than to Raphinha.”
Williams is under contract with Athletic Bilbao until 2027.