Barcelona transfer target Jose Gaya will reportedly sign a new contract with Valencia as he does not wish to play second-fiddle to Jordi Alba at Camp Nou.
According to journalist Alex Pintanel, who was speaking during a Q&A session with Mad About Barca, Valencia defender Jose Gaya is ready to snub a summer transfer to Barcelona and sign a new contract with his boyhood club.
Gaya is a product of the Valencia youth academy and has been the first-choice left-back at the Mestalla for almost eight years. The 26-year-old has racked up 285 appearances for Los Che, scoring eight goals and registering 34 assists. A regular for the Spanish national team setup, he has 17 caps for La Roja as well.
Gaya has been on the radars of Barcelona for quite some time now. The Catalans have been eyeing the Valencia ace as the long-term replacement for current first-choice left-back Jordi Alba. Reports indicated that the Blaugrana had made the Spanish international their priority target to strengthen the position in the summer.
Barcelona are keen on signing a left-back who can provide cover for Alba before eventually taking over from the veteran star in the years to come. Gaya’s proven pedigree in La Liga, his age, and the fact that he would be entering the final year of his contract in the summer made him a top target for Barcelona.
However, it seems like Gaya is now ready to snub the Catalan heavyweights. According to Alex Pintanel, the 26-year-old does not wish to move to Camp Nou and play second-fiddle to Alba. If he were to secure a transfer, he would prefer to be the first choice for the position, which would not be possible, as long as Alba is at the club and going strong.
As a result, Gaya has now decided to snub the interest from Barcelona. He instead wishes to pen a new contract with Valencia to prolong his stay at the Mestalla beyond 2023.
Also Read: Three Jose Gaya alternatives for Barcelona to consider signing
It will come as a huge blow to Barcelona, who had been eyeing a move for the 26-year-old. However, they have identified several other options to reinforce their left-back slots. Former La Masia prospect Alejandro Grimaldo, who plies his trade for SL Benfica and has a contract expiring in 2023, is a prospective target for Barcelona.