Barcelona will reportedly pursue Spanish under-21 international Alex Baena if they fail to sign Ilkay Gundogan this summer.
According to a report by ESPN, Alex Baena is the subject of interest from Barcelona over a possible move in the summer transfer window. The Catalan giants view the Spanish under-21 international as an alternative to Ilkay Gundogan. And they are keeping tabs on his situation at Villarreal.
Alex Baena started his youth career at Roquetas but spent most of his formative years with Villarreal. And after nearly a decade in the Spanish club’s youth division, he made his first-team debut in July 2020. But the 21-year-old needed a loan stint with Girona before establishing a foothold in the first-team squad.
The Spanish under-21 secured promotion to the first team ahead of the 2022/23 season. And he enjoyed a solid campaign, chipping in with 12 goals and six assists in 48 appearances across all competitions. Baena’s progress has not gone unnoticed either, with Barcelona being his latest suitor.
The youngster has also garnered interest from the Premier League, with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool keen. But Barcelona’s emergence in the equation can potentially turn the player’s head. And the Catalan giants view him as an alternative to first-choice midfield target Ilkay Gundogan.
The German international is in the final days of his contract with Manchester City. And he has yet to decide where he will spend the final years of his career amid interest from Barcelona, Arsenal, and other clubs. But staying at Manchester City is also an option for the experienced midfielder.
With Barcelona not knowing Gundogan’s final decision yet, the Catalan giants are keeping their options open. And Baena has emerged as a viable alternative to the 32-year-old. But the newly-crowned La Liga champions are open to signing both Gundogan and the Spanish under-21 international if their financial situation permits it.
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Big things are in store for Baena, with several high-profile clubs setting their sights on him. And with Barcelona closely monitoring the Spaniard’s progress, a summer move might be on the cards. It will be interesting to see if the Catalan giants sign the Spanish under-21 international in the coming weeks.
