Barcelona are in talks with Everton and West Ham United over a deal for Martin Braithwaite, with it looking likely the forward will move to the Premier League.
That’s what Mundo Deportivo report today, who claim that Braithwaite is set to depart the Nou Camp just six months after his arrival.
They say the Spanish giants are already negotiating his exit and sources at the club have admitted that his future lies back in England
Indeed, according to the newspaper, Everton and West Ham are at the front of the queue for his signature and talks are already underway with both clubs.
In the case of the Toffees, they maintain a ‘good relationship’ with Barcelona after negotiating deals for Lucas Digne, Andre Gomes and Yerry Mina in recent years.
They are said to be ‘very interested’ in the forward.
West Ham, meanwhile, have been following Braithwaite for months, first starting during his spell at Leganés.
Barcelona want a sale for €18m so they can amortise the fee they had to pay to get him out of his contract at Leganés.
Whether Everton or West Ham are willing to pay that isn’t mentioned, but it is made abundantly clear Barça want rid as Luis Suárez’s recovery from injury, and the emergence of Ansu Fati, has pushed him out of contention.
There is also interest in Spain, with ‘several’ teams in La Liga all putting him in their ‘portfolio’.
Real Valladolid, Real Sociedad and Sevilla are all named, but Barça’s €18m asking price is a problem because of the current economic situation in Spain.
Thus, the Premier League duo are leading the race, although questions will be raised about the validity of the link to Everton.
While West Ham certainly need forward additions this summer, the Toffees are well-stocked upfront with Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Moise Kean.
The latter has been promised more game time next season and, unless he were to leave, it seems unlikely Everton would pay €18m for a player who would be fourth choice.
As for the timeframe, Ferran Martínez, who wrote the article, took to Twitter to say the player could be heading to the Premier League in the ‘coming days’.
✈️🏴 Braithwaite podría salir del Barça en los próximos días.
👥 Ya se está negociando su salida, que apunta a en la Premier
💷 Everton y West Ham, los más interesados. El Barça quiere recuperar inversión (alrededor de 18M€) https://t.co/BSDMLq1IbU
— Ferran Martínez (@martinezferran) July 30, 2020
