Barcelona are reportedly interested in signing Manu Trigueros, with the 29-year-old midfielder in line to become a free agent next summer.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Barcelona’s search for a central midfield reinforcement has taken them to fellow La Liga club Villarreal. It is here where Manu Trigueros has emerged as a potential Bosman target for the Catalan giants, with the 29-year-old in the final year of his current contract.
Manu Trigueros joined Villarreal from Real Murcia in Villarreal in the summer of 2010 and has since gone on to establish himself as one of the most consistent midfielders in La Liga. To date, the Spaniard has made 387 appearances for the Yellow Submarine while chipping in with 29 goals and 34 assists along the way.
However, Villarreal are in a precarious position over the future of the 29-year-old, who has entered the final year of his contract with the club. His situation has now piqued the interest of several La Liga clubs, with one of his suitors being Barcelona.
Barcelona have been forced into a situation wherein they are desperately in search of a central midfielder after choosing not bring in a reinforcement despite offloading Ilaix Moriba and Miralem Pjanic (on loan). That has compounded the workload on Sergio Busquets, Frenkie de Jong and Pedri.
Such a situation has also prompted Ronald Koeman to bank on youngsters like Gavi and Nico Gonzalez, although that is hardly an ideal situation for Barcelona. As a result, they are now scouring the market for a midfielder, with Franck Kessie among the options emerging on their radar of late.
Trigueros, too, is a viable target for Barcelona, who would further be appealed by the fact that he could be a free agent next summer. Apart from the 29-year-old, Barcelona are also interested in Ander Herrera and Ryan Gravenberch, although those two will cost a certain amount to be acquired.
What now remains to be seen is if the Blaugrana end up prioritising a move for Trigueros in the summer transfer window over a Bosman move or set their sights on one of the other options on their radar instead. For now, what remains certain is that Barcelona are in desperate need of signing a central midfielder.
