90min

Amadou Onana leads Barcelona's four-man shortlist of midfield transfer targets - report

  • Barcelona want to sign new midfielder this summer
  • Amadou Onana leads shortlist of four options
  • Joshua Kimmich also on list but Barca face rival interest from Premier League

By Sean Walsh

Onana is turning heads
Onana is turning heads / Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/GettyImages
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Barcelona have identified Joshua Kimmich, Amadou Onana, Aleix Garcia and Mats Wieffer as their midfield targets for the summer transfer window, according to reports in Spain.

The Spanish champions have been scouring Europe to find a belated replacement to club legend Sergio Busquets, who departed for Inter Miami in MLS at the end of the 2022/23 season.

Barca were hamstrung by financial issues last summer and were largely restricted to free transfers and cut-price deals. In the midfield department, they recruited Ilkay Gundogan from Manchester City and Oriol Romeu from Girona.

SPORT report sporting director Deco is determined to strengthen in midfield again prior to the start of the 2024/25 season and has four names in mind.

Deco
Deco wants a new midfielder / Soccrates Images/GettyImages

Everton's Onana is the most appreciated by Barcelona, citing his physique, confidence, aerial ability and danger in the opposition box as reasons behind their interest.

However, he could prove to be an expensive option, with the Toffees currently demanding around €60m to sell the Belgium international. This stance could soften if Everton are relegated from the Premier League - they sit four points clear of the drop zone but could be hit with a second points deduction for financial breaches before the end of the season.

Bayern Munich's Kimmich - who is said to be open to a move to Barcelona - is also high on the club's wish list, but thrashing out a deal would be difficult due to his high salary demands and rival interest from England.

Barcelona are also admirers of Netherlands international Wieffer, who has been given a glowing recommendation by former Feyenoord boss and ex-Barcelona star Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Unlike Onana and Kimmich, Wieffer would be available for a more modest €25m.

Another cheaper option for Barcelona is Garcia, who has been one of the stars of Girona's incredible La Liga season. His contract contains a €15m release clause.

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