Barcelona's Junior Firpo attracting interest from West Ham & Milan

Junior Firpo is the. subject of interest from West Ham and Milan, with Barcelona open to letting him leave the club if they can sign a replacement.

The left-back joined Barça back in 2019 but has struggled to dislodged Jordi Alba from the first team since, making just 23 appearances in all competitions last season. His playing time has been even more limited this term with Firpo featuring just 10 times.

Barcelona are willing to let him leave Camp Nou, although not before they have sourced a suitable replacement. According to ESPN, Milan have expressed an interest in taking the player on loan until the end of the season. Their starting left-back, Theo Hernandez, has been in fine form this term, but they have little strength in depth.

The Rossoneri have had quite the season so far – they currently sit top of Serie A by three points, and are keen to cement their position by bolstering their ranks.

However, Barça would prefer to sanction a permanent exit with their financial problems well known. This could work in West Ham's favour as it is understood that they favour a transfer, rather than a loan. Aaron Cresswell is the Hammers' first choice left-back, though he has been playing as a third centre-back this season too and like Milan, West Ham have few other options in the position due to Arthur Masuaka's injury.

Getting any deal over the line could prove tricky due to Barça's ongoing presidential race. The three candidates, Joan Laporta, Victor Font and Toni Freixa, voted against allowing interim president Carles Tusquets powers to negotiate transfers in January, with a permanent leader not being decided until the end of the month.

Meanwhile, Barcelona are set to launch a likely doomed appeal against Lionel Messi's suspension. The Argentine picked up a red card for striking Asier Villalibre in the Supercopa de Espana final, in what was the first dismissal of his club career.