La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are reportedly prepared to offload Nico Gonzalez amid interest from Premier League champions Manchester City.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Nico Gonzalez is facing an uncertain future at Camp Nou, with Barcelona ready to sell him in the summer transfer window. The Spanish midfielder is a target for Manchester City ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Nico Gonzalez is one of the brightest young prospects in Spain, having made swift progress since joining Barcelona from Montaneros in 2013. The 20-year-old pledged his long-term future to the Blaugrana last year before earning his first-team debut at the onset of the 2021/22 season.
The Spaniard has benefitted from Barcelona’s financial crisis, establishing a foothold in the first-team setup and making 36 appearances for the first team. And Nico’s progress has not gone unnoticed, with some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Manchester City, setting their sights on him.
The interest from Manchester City comes in the wake of Fernandinho’s departure from the Etihad as a free agent. The Brazilian midfielder’s contract will officially run out at the end of this month, and he could return to his homeland this summer, with Athletico Paranaense on the verge of signing him in a Bosman move.
Fernandinho’s departure will leave a gaping hole in the Manchester City midfield unit despite the heroics of Rodri in the last few years. To that end, Nico Gonzalez has emerged as a viable target for Manchester City, with the Barcelona midfield prospect a potential long-term successor for Fernandinho.
Apart from Nico Gonzalez, Kalvin Phillips is another option to replace Fernandinho. Meanwhile, the 20-year-old is not the only Barcelona player on Manchester City’s radar, with Dutch international Frenkie de Jong also a candidate for the Premier League champions to bolster their midfield unit.
As for Nico, Barcelona will be open to cashing in on the young Spanish midfield prospect, giving Manchester City the impetus to pursue his signature. It will be interesting to see if a summer move to the Etihad materialises for Nico or if he stays put at FC Barcelona heading into the 2022/23 season.