Barcelona make verbal offer for long-term target
- Olmo attracting interest from several top sides this summer
- €60m release clause in Spaniard's contract expires later this month
- Barcelona working to strike deal for former academy talent
By Tom Gott, Ben Jacobs
Barcelona have made a verbal offer for RB Leipzig midfielder Dani Olmo, 90min understands.
Olmo, who spent seven years in the Barcelona academy before leaving for Dinamo Zagreb in 2014 without playing a single first-team game, is attracting plenty of interest from across Europe as a result of his €60m (£51m) release clause, which expires in mid-July.
Clearly, Barcelona cannot afford to trigger that release clause and pay that full amount up-front, but sources have confirmed to 90min that the Catalan giants are looking to strike a deal worth a similar amount which would revolve around favourable payment terms.
Sporting director Deco, who is a huge fan of Olmo, has held advanced conversations with both Olmo and Leipzig over a deal for the 26-year-old, who is currently away with Spain at Euro 2024.
Leipzig would prefer to receive Olmo's €60m clause in full but have not yet ruled out Barcelona's proposal of a payment plan as they do not want to block Olmo from sealing a summer switch –providing the deal works for both parties.
Barcelona are keen to wrap up Olmo's signature and have made that desire known to both club and player.
A bonus for Barcelona is it appears there will be less Premier League interest for them to compete with. Manchester City like him but the feeling is they will prioritise trying for Joshua Kimmich this summer. Barcelona have Olmo far higher up their list of priorities than the eight-time Premier League champions.
Earlier this summer, Olmo told Mundo Deportivo that his focus is solely on Euro 2024, but the midfielder clearly left the door open to a summer exit from Leipzig.
"Obviously it is good to see your name linked to great teams in Europe and the world, that motivates me, but I am focused on the Euros and I hope we can return with the trophy," Olmo vowed. "Then we'll see."
On interest from Barcelona specifically, he added: "It's nice to see your name linked to the greats, but I insist, it's nothing that bothers me. I am focused on the field and then whatever has to be, will be."
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