Barcelona are already negotiating with Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero about a move to the club this summer.
That’s according to Sport, who cover the situation today after claims in Argentina that Barça were pushing ahead with a potential move.
Aguero is out of contract with Manchester City in the summer and, at this moment in time, unlikely to sign a new deal to extend his stay at the Etihad.
That has led to talk of where he might end up next, and Barcelona have emerged as the surprise front-runners over the last week, with it believed they are keen on the forward, perhaps as he would help convince Lionel Messi to stay at the club.
They say his name has entered the negotiations ‘with force’, although it is more a case of his name being on the table than anything being definitively decided at this point in time.
To date, there is no agreement with the player because the new board of directors wants to sit down and analyse the plan for next season before jumping into any decisions.
Their plan is have a chat with the sporting side, including manager Ronald Koeman, and discuss the pros and cons of any deal, but the option comes after Aguero ‘was offered’ to the club a few weeks ago.
The deal would be ‘relatively straightforward’ to get over the line given the Argentine will be available on a free as he will not be renewing his contract with Manchester City.
An international star with experience of La Liga and a style that would fit Barcelona’s, Aguero is seen as a smart signing, but the major plus point is that he may help them convince Messi to remain for at least one more year.
There are doubts, though.
Aguero is 33 and has spent most of this season out injured, so there are concerns there, all the while having to adjust his wages as Barcelona cannot afford what he currently is on at Manchester City.
That is something for the club to work out, and while Joan Laporta has his sights ‘set on the player’, there is no agreement as of yet.
