Manchester United have reportedly entered the race to sign Barcelona midfielder Gavi, who is also on the radars of Liverpool and Chelsea.
According to AS, Barcelona midfield prodigy, Gavi is likely to spark a transfer war in the summer, with Premier League giants Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United interested in signing him.
Gavi is a product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy and made his first-team debut for the club in the early stages of the ongoing season. The 17-year-old soon established himself as a mainstay in the middle of the park for the Blaugrana and also broke into the Spanish national team.
Gavi has continued to go from strength to strength at Barcelona, racking up a total of 33 appearances in his breakthrough season, in which he has scored two goals and registered five assists. The youngster’s rapid rise to stardom has caught the attention of several top clubs across Europe while putting Barcelona in a precarious position over his future.
Gavi’s current contract with the La Liga giants expires in 2023. It has a release clause worth €50 million, which should not be a problem for most big clubs on the continent. Talks over a new deal have been ongoing but have hit a roadblock, leading to the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United sniffing around the situation of the teenage sensation.
Chelsea are currently going through turmoil off the field are barred from signing new players due to the sanctions imposed on owner Roman Abramovich by the UK Government. However, things could change when the summer window opens, provided a new owner is in place, with several parties interested in buying the club from the Russian oligarch.
Despite the situation, Chelsea seem to be planning for the summer transfer window and have identified Gavi as a key target. With N’Golo Kante into his thirties and battling fitness problems over the past eighteen months, it could be time for Thomas Tuchel’s side to lay down a succession plan. Gavi, to that end, could be a viable replacement, given his all-action style of play.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have a long-standing interest in Gavi and have even made a contract offer for the 17-year-old as they try to lure him away from Barcelona. Having not replaced Georginio Wijnaldum last summer, the Reds are looking for a new midfielder, especially with captain Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara and James Milner on the wrong side of their thirties.
Gavi has thus emerged as a priority target for Liverpool. But their pursuit of the teenager could be made difficult as rivals Manchester United have also entered the race to sign him. The Red Devils need reinforcements in the middle of the park as Paul Pogba will be out of contract in the summer and looks set to depart on a Bosman deal.
In addition, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard are also likely to leave on free transfers, while Donny van de Beek, who is on loan at Everton, is also facing an uncertain future. So, a new midfielder will be a necessary addition for Manchester United, and a player of Gavi’s potential and abilities could be a wise signing.
However, the report mentions that Gavi wants to continue at Barcelona by signing a new contract. But should an agreement not be reached, a move could materialise.
