La Liga top four hopefuls Athletic Club and Real Sociedad are reportedly interested in signing 18-year-old Barcelona attacking sensation Dani Rodriguez.
According to a report by Spanish outlet SPORT, Dani Rodriguez might leave Barcelona as a free agent in the summer transfer window. The reigning La Liga champions want to tie the 18-year-old to a new contract before his current deal runs out. Meanwhile, the young attacking sensation is a target for Basque outfits Athletic Club and Real Sociedad.
Who is Dani Rodriguez?
Dani Rodriguez is the latest highly-rated academy prospect to rise in prominence in Barcelona’s fabled La Masia division. The Spanish under-19 international is a native of Astigarraga and joined the Blaugrana in July 2020 from Real Sociedad. Since then, he has come leaps and bounds, establishing himself as one of the best young prospects in the country.
The 18-year-old has yet to make his first-team debut for Barcelona but has turned out six times thus far for Barcelona Atletic. Meanwhile, the reigning La Liga champions are in a spot of bother over Rodriguez’s long-term future as he has entered the final six months of his contract with the Catalan outfit.
The youngster’s contract situation has not gone unnoticed, with several well-known clubs setting their sights on him. Recent reports have linked the Spaniard with Tottenham Hotspur. However, a move across La Liga might also be on the cards, with top-four hopefuls Athletic Club and Real Sociedad interested in the Barcelona attacking sensation.
Set to Return to the Basque Country
Athletic Club and Barcelona have a history of trading players, with Inigo Martinez arriving at the Catalan outfit on a Bosman move last summer after running down his contract at San Mames. Dani Rodriguez has now emerged as a target for Athletic Club to repay the Blaugrana.
As for Real Sociedad, the Basque giants are in a spot of bother over the long-term future of Takefusa Kubo amid his links with his former club, Real Madrid. However, Real Sociedad and Athletic Club will unlikely sign Rodriguez if he signs a new contract with Barcelona.
The Blaugrana will likely insert a release clause worth €10 million in the new contract. The two Basque giants are not ready to shell out such a sum to sign Rodriguez from Barcelona in the summer transfer window and would prefer a Bosman move.
