RB Leipzig are reportedly inching closer to securing the services of Ilaix Moriba, having agreed personal terms with the Barcelona midfielder.
According to reputed Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Ilaix Moriba is one step closer to leaving Barcelona before the summer transfer window slams shut. The 18-year-old midfielder has agreed personal terms with RB Leipzig, with the Bundesliga giants in talks with Barcelona over a transfer fee.
Ilaix Moriba seems to have played his final game for Barcelona, after choosing not to renew terms with the Catalan giants. With his wage demands being deemed to be too unrealistic and the player himself not budging, the Blaugrana have banished him from the first-team setup, with the 18-year-old not featuring for Barcelona B either.
It is a real shame for a player who had shown a lot of promise upon breaking into Ronald Koeman’s squad last season, featuring 18 times for Barcelona while also chipping in with a goal and three assists in the process. His impasse, though, has piqued the interest of several clubs across Europe, one among whom are RB Leipzig.
The Bundesliga giants have been forced to enter the market for a midfielder amid Marcel Sabitzer’s impending move to Bayern Munich. With the Austrian midfielder making the cross-Bundesliga switch, Leipzig have the need to sign a replacement, with the versatile Moriba emerging as a viable target.
In fact, Leipzig have been in talks with Barcelona over the teenage prodigy for quite some time, with Barcelona demanding up to €20 million for him. Now, though, the east German outfit have agreed personal terms with Moriba himself, and all that now remains is to reach an agreement over a transfer fee.
Moriba had been a popular figure in the transfer market this summer, with the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham being linked with him at one point or another. However, the Barcelona contract rebel is only interested in joining Leipzig, whose pedigree of grooming youngsters cannot be matched by many clubs.
What now remains to be seen is if RB Leipzig can do anything to get closer to Barcleona’s valuation of the 18-year-old. For now, Moriba appears set to make his way out of Camp Nou this summer, with a switch to Bundesliga being highly likely.