Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Adama Traore are set to fight it out at Barcelona following their respective moves from Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That’s according to Sport, who say it Xavi has to choose between the pair when he registers his squad for the Europa League.
Both players are new signings at the Nou Camp, with Adama arriving on loan from Wolves until the end of the season and Aubameyang on a free after being released by Arsenal.
Both are looking to give their careers a much-needed kick, with Aubameyang having found himself out of favour at Arsenal in recent months and Traore faring similarly since Bruno Lage’s arrival at Wolves.
Sport explain that Xavi has to make the ‘complicated’ decision of registering his new signings for the Europa League.
He has four to choose from but only three available spaces due to UEFA regulations, and so now has ‘really intense days of deep reflection’ ahead of him.
Torres will be eliminated from the running early on, given Barcelona spent €40m to sign him, and there is a feeling that Dani Alves, despite his age, will also be registered as Xavi considers his ‘influence and leadership vital’.
That means it will likely be a direct choice between Adama and Aubameyang, and it appears the former Arsenal man will lose out.
The signing from Wolves has the advantage as youngsters in his position cannot be registered and Ousmane Dembele is out injured so that would put him ahead of Aubameyang as Xavi needs ‘electricity’ on the wings.
The former Arsenal man would therefore be the ‘victim’ in this battle then, although the Barcelona boss is yet to make his ‘final verdict.’
