90min

RB Leipzig identify replacement for Barcelona target Dani Olmo - report

  • RB Leipzig are planning for a future without Dani Olmo
  • Spain attacker a on course to join Barcelona
  • Move could hinge on him being replaced in Germany

By Jamie Spencer

RB Leipzig are planning for if Dani Olmo is sold
RB Leipzig are planning for if Dani Olmo is sold / ODD ANDERSEN/GettyImages
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RB Leipzig are making plans for when Barcelona target Dani Olmo leaves the club this summer, reported to have identified Lyon's Rayan Cherki as a replacement for the Euro 2024 winner.

Barca have already met disappointment during the transfer window, with premier target Nico Williams in line to stay with current club Athletic Club. But Olmo is also wanted back in his native Catalonia - the original plan was to move on to him after wrapping up a Williams deal - and an agreement is believed to have been verbally reached on a total package worth €62m.

Olmo's release clause has expired, although Leipzig are still preparing themselves for a future without him. Sky Sport Germany write that Cherki is a "top target" for the Bundesliga side to replace Olmo. The 20-year-old Frenchman, set to contest the Olympic gold medal match on Friday, could cost between €15m and €20m from Lyon and talks are described as "ongoing".

Leipzig are said to also have eyes on PSV Eindhoven's Johan Bakayoko and Porto's Francisco Conceicao if Olmo goes, as they weigh up multiple options.

Rayan Cherki
Rayan Cherki could hold the key to Barcelona's Olmo pursuit / Eurasia Sport Images/GettyImages

Even with no active release clause, Olmo is set to move for a similar fee as the previous €60m figure. Most of that, to the tune of €55m, will be guaranteed, with €7m more in what are reported to be "difficult" to achieve add-ons. It could mean the final outlay is less than the release clause.

An agreement over personal terms was already believe to have already been struck with Olmo.

The 26-year-old has been with Leipzig since January 2020. He previously spent seven years with Barcelona at youth level, but then took the unusual step of moving his career to Croatia at the age of 16. Olmo signed with Dinamo Zagreb, made his senior debut less than a year later and was a regular first-team player getting Champions League football before he was 21.

Barcelona are yet to complete any new signings so far this summer, with the only additions to last season's squad coming in the shape of loan returns.

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