La Liga heavyweights Barcelona have reportedly set their sights on French playmaker Nabil Fekir, valued at around €80 million by Real Betis.
According to a report by Spanish publication SPORT, Nabil Fekir is the subject of interest from Barcelona over a possible move in the summer transfer window. The Catalan giants are prepared to shell out €60 million to land the French playmaker, but La Liga rivals Real Betis might demand around €80 million for him.
Nabil Fekir has come leaps and bounds since joining Real Betis from Lyon in July 2019. While the 28-year-old experienced teething problems at the Benito Villamarin Stadium, he found stable footing last season and has taken his performance level up a notch in the ongoing campaign.
The French attacker has nine goals and seven assists in 30 appearances across all competitions and has played a pivotal role in Real Betis’ ascent in La Liga. Los Verdiblancos are surprise candidates for a top-four finish this season, and Fekir’s performances will go a long way in determining their final position. At the same time, his displays have caught the attention of Barcelona.
The Catalan giants do not necessarily have the need of bolstering their creative midfield options, especially with recent reports claiming that Frenkie de Jong is keen on staying put at Camp Nou. But Fekir could be an option to reinforce the attacking unit amid the uncertainties surrounding the future of Ousmane Dembele.
The Frenchman seems destined to leave Barcelona as a free agent and has been heavily linked with Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, among others. Some reports had even claimed that the La Liga heavyweights were contemplating terminating Dembele’s contract after failing to offload him in the January transfer window.
While Fekir will not be a like-for-like replacement for Dembele, he has the ability to play in a wide attacking role, making him an option worth considering for Barcelona. And the Catalan giants are prepared to offer €60 million to snap up the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner.
But Real Betis will demand around €80 million to part with their prized asset, which seems to be a fair valuation, considering his contract will not expire until 2026. So it remains to be seen if Barcelona will be willing to shell out €80 million to snap up the French attacker or negotiate a lower sum to secure his services.
