Barcelona will reportedly turn to 19-year-old Fiorentina full-back Michael Kayode if they fail to complete a permanent move for Joao Cancelo.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Michael Kayode is the subject of interest from Barcelona. The reigning La Liga champions want to complete a permanent move for a right-back in the summer transfer window. The 19-year-old Fiorentina full-back has thus emerged as a potential alternative to Joao Cancelo.
Who is Michael Kayode?
Michael Kayode has established himself as one of the best right-backs in Serie A since breaking into the first-team squad at Fiorentina. A native of Borgomanero, the teenage sensation spent his formative years with three clubs, graduating from Fiorentina’s youth division while also representing Juventus for a few years.
The 19-year-old has established himself as a regular for the first-team squad at Fiorentina this season. In addition, the Italian full-back represents his homeland at the under-21 level on the international stage. Meanwhile, Kayode has turned out 29 times thus far this term, chipping in with one goal and four assists.
The youngster’s progress at Fiorentina has not gone unnoticed, with several high-profile clubs setting their sights on him. Premier League bigwigs, in particular, are interested in signing Kayode in the summer transfer window. But his next destination might be Barcelona.
Barcelona interested
Barcelona’s interest in Michael Kayode is understandable. The Bllaugrana will delve into the market for a right-back heading into the summer transfer window. While their priority target is Joao Cancelo after his exploits this season, Manchester City might complicate the negotiations for the Portuguese international.
In addition, Barcelona might not meet Manchester City’s valuation of the 29-year-old. Several candidates have thus emerged on Barcelona’s radar, with Kayode also being a viable target. The 19-year-old has his best years ahead of him and can potentially give over a decade to Barcelona.
But the Catalan giants have other targets for the right-back berth, with Ivan Fresneda recently emerging as an option. It will be interesting to see if Barcelona can complete a permanent move for Joao Cancelo or identify an alternative to the Portuguese international.
