La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are reportedly closing in on securing the services of Spanish left-back Javi Galan, valued at €10 million by Celta Vigo.
According to a report by Spanish publication SPORT, Javi Galan is getting closer to becoming a new Barcelona player in the summer transfer window. The Blaugrana could also attempt to clinch a part-exchange deal to land the Spanish left-back, valued at around €10 million by Celta Vigo.
Javi Galan has established himself as one of the most reliable left-backs in La Liga in the last two years. The 27-year-old first became a prominent name in the Spanish top-flight by being a standout performer for SD Huesca in the 2020/21 season. And while Huesca dropped to the second division, Galan remained in La Liga by joining Celta Vigo last summer.
The Spaniard has been a pivotal figure for the Galician club this season, missing just two games while chipping in with three assists in 34 outings thus far. Galan’s progress over the last two years has not gone unnoticed, with one of the biggest clubs in Europe – Barcelona – setting sights on him.
The interest from Barcelona is hardly surprising, as Alejandro Balde is yet to establish a foothold in the first-team setup at Camp Nou. While the youngster is primed for big things at FC Barcelona, the Blaugrana will need to seek a stopgap solution till the 18-year-old is deemed ready to become a regular.
Signing a left-back is also necessary for Barcelona because Jordi Alba is well into his thirties and has been showing signs of age catching up with him. While the veteran Spanish left-back is still capable of producing spectacular moments, the consistency in his game has taken a hit this season, prompting Barcelona to delve into the market for an alternative.
Galan is thus a viable target for the Blaugrana, with his price tag also falling within their budget. Celta Vigo will reportedly demand around €10 million to part with the 27-year-old, even though he is on a long-term contract. While Barcelona might be able to afford to pay the required €10 million, they could also seek a solution via a part-exchange deal to land Galan.
Also Read: Three potential alternatives to Jose Gaya for Barcelona
According to SPORT, Riqui Puig or Martin Braithwaite could enter the deal to bring the €10 million price tag down. It will be interesting to see if Celta Vigo will be open to accepting such a proposal. But either way, Galan is closing in on joining Barcelona in the summer transfer window.