AS Monaco to hold talks for Barcelona defensive talent during Gamper Trophy visit

Barcelona will go head-to-head against AS Monaco in the Joan Gamper Trophy clash later tonight at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Montjuic.

The match will be the final preparation for Hansi Flick & co. before the La Liga campaign starts later this weekend. And playing a team like Monaco will be a good test for the players.

Furthermore, there may very well be more benefits for Barcelona from the visit of the Ligue 1 outfit.

Mika Faye to be discussed

Indeed, according to SPORT, AS Monaco might make use of their trip for the Gamper Trophy match to hold talks about signing Mika Faye from Barcelona.

As has already been reported, the Principality outfit are one of several Ligue 1 clubs interested in signing the 20-year-old Barcelona centre-back.

There have been initial inquiries made but tonight’s meeting in Montjuic will not only provide Monaco a chance to get a closer look at the player, provided he plays, but also further their talks with Barça for the centre-half.

After all, Monaco may be currently trailing their league rivals Rennes in the race for Faye, with the latter already making an opening offer for the Senegalese international.

Barcelona have conditions

Given the competition for places in the centre-back position, Faye has little to no chance of getting minutes in the first team this season.

Moreover, consider the club’s dire need to raise some cash from player sales, they are open to offloading the Senegalese centre-back.

At the same time, though, Barcelona do not want to lose total control of the young centre-half, which is understandable considering the vast potential he possesses.

As such, Barcelona are insisting on either inserting a buyback clause or a future sell-on clause for Faye in case he leaves on a permanent transfer before the transfer window closes.