As Barcelona prepare to bid goodbye to club captain Sergio Busquets on June 30, the search for a proper replacement for the veteran icon is gathering pace.
It is no secret that Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad has been the preferred option for manager Xavi Hernandez for a while now. The Barça boss was even effusive in praise of the Spaniard on Friday during his press conference ahead of tonight’s game against Sociedad.
However, Zubimendi’s €60 million release clause and the Basque club’s reluctance to negotiate have made the move nearly impossible to achieve. As a result, it was reported that Sofyan Amrabat of Fiorentina had become the club’s No. 1 target for the pivot position.
But now, according to a fresh report from RAC1, it is Joshua Kimmich of Bayern Munich who has jumped to the top of the pile as far as Barcelona’s list of potential Busquets’ replacements is concerned.
The links to Kimmich have been doing the rounds since this week, with the 28-year-old German international reportedly unhappy at Bayern Munich and looking for an exit at the end of the season.
In fact, some reports have even suggested that the full-back turned midfielder would be ‘delighted’ at the opportunity to sign for Barça this summer.
Kimmich is regarded as one of the best midfielders in Europe currently and rightly so. He has been a consistent performer for the Bavarian giants and is in his peak years, making him an attractive proposition for Xavi & co.
However, his signing will come with its own set of complications. For starters, Bayern Munich have no intentions of negotiating with any club over Kimmich’s sale in the summer. Even if they are willing to discuss such a move, the midfielder is expected to cost at least €60 million.
Beyond that, Premier League clubs such as Arsenal and Liverpool are also interested.
So, the operation will not be straightforward by any means and it remains to be seen whether Barcelona can convince Bayern to part ways with Kimmich like they did with Robert Lewandowski last year.
