Barcelona are eyeing up deals for Manchester City duo Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan in January, with the latter a far more realistic target.
That’s according to Mundo Deportivo, who cover the Catalan side’s search for a midfielder today and how that has led them to look at the Etihad.
They report that Barcelona are ‘very attentive’ to the January transfer window and the possibility of further strengthening Xavi’s squad.
That will depend on the financial fair play rules set by La Liga, but the club’s intention is to be able to sign players, even if they have to fight with those in charge to do so first.
A midfielder is among their priorities and Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva was the ‘profile’ that they were keen on in the summer.
He remains the ‘big dream’ for them, but the club are aware that signing him in January would be ‘practically impossible’ given his status at City and his current contract situation.
That is why they are studying the market in depth in search of alternatives and his Manchester City teammate Gundogan is seen as one of them.
They believe ‘he has enough quality’ to play for the club as his footballing style fits their plan perfectly, while his experience would be good for the likes of Pedri and Gavi.
The German was linked with a move away in the summer and his contract is expiring next year, meaning he is free to negotiate with clubs in January and it ‘would be difficult’ for Manchester City to keep him if an offer is made and he wants to leave.
Whether Barcelona will be able to do so remains to be seen but he and Silva are certainly on their list of potential signings.
