Paris Saint-Germain are currently trying to negotiate the purchase of a first team star according to … [+]
FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are currently negotiating the transfer of one of the Catalans’ first team stars according to El Nacional.
The Parisians have already raided Xavi Hernandez’s squad once this summer, leaving the head coach to lament a ‘great disappointment’ at the weekend when Ousmane Dembele’s €50.4 million ($55 million) move to the French capital was announced.
The legendary midfielder counted on the winger for his sporting project in 2023/2024, but perhaps the same thing can’t be said about La Masia prodigy Ansu Fati.
Though Xavi has always talked up the quality the 20-year-old undoubtedly boasts, he hasn’t been able to give a straight answer when probed in public on whether Fati will be sold this summer.
“We will see. There is a market until August 31. He is very good and has been at a very good level like Ferran. We can’t say anything. If, as it seems, Ousmane leaves, we have to strengthen ourselves,” Xavi insisted following last Tuesday’s Joan Gamper Trophy win over Tottenham Hotspur.
Along with Ferran Torres and Clement Lenglet, Fati is one of Barca’s sellable assets in the currently open window and is perhaps the most interesting considering any offloading represents pure profit for the cash-strapped club.
When Dembele’s move was in its final stages, AS reported that PSG, now managed by Fati’s former Spain boss Luis Enrique, were keen on the number 10 too.
According to El Nacional, that interest is becoming more concrete with the Ligue 1 champions prepared to pay just €40 million ($43.7 million) with €30 million ($32.7 million) fixed and another €10 million ($10.9 million) forthcoming in variables.
With the club’s financial predicament – which saw them have to pull another ‘economic lever’ on Friday and rush to register players for the recently-started season – in mind, however, president Joan Laporta does not want to accept this proposal.
Instead, he reportedly wants €50 million ($55 million) in a one off payment only this time all the money would be headed Barca’s way and not shared with the player and his agent Jorge Mendes.
Thanks to a clause in the contract Dembele renewed last year, the transfer fee was meant to be split between Barca, the winger and his representative Moussa Sissoko – though a report from SPORT revealed that the club managed to hold on to a lion’s share of €34.5 million ($37.7 million).
Irrespective of what Barca want or what PSG are willing to pay, however, Mendes and Fati have told the youngster’s current employers that they are staying put.
With Fati boasting a contract that runs until 2027, he is under no obligation to move and can vow to fight for prominence if he wishes.