Saturday’s edition of Mundo Deportivo reported Watford are preparing an offer in the region of €9-10m for Gerard Deulofeu, and Barcelona are planning to mess them about.
The Catalan newspaper claimed Barca would drag the potential transfer out as long as possible and wait for a better offer to come in. If that scenario didn’t play out the way they wanted, they’d then fall back on the offer from Watford and send Deulofeu there.
Long treated as a commodity from the club which brought him through, Deulofeu probably expected as much.
Sunday’s edition of Sport, another Catalan newspaper, has it slightly differently. They say Barcelona have an excellent relationship with Watford owner Gino Pozzo, and that should be taken into account.
A meeting will be held in Barcelona next week on the transfer, and it’s possible Pozzo will attend himself.
Sport say Barca sources have told them that under no circumstances will Deulofeu be allowed to leave the club for less than the €12m paid to Everton for him.
The two clubs will get their heads together next week and try to come to an agreement, according to Sunday’s claims, with Barca wanting €15m and Watford wanting to pay much less.
