Barcelona given hope in pursuit of Premier League midfield duo – report

Barcelona have been given a glimmer of hope in their pursuit of signing either Amadou Onana from Everton or Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United, according to a report by Roger Torello in Mundo Deportivo. 

It is suggested that the situation has occurred as both Everton and Newcastle United need to sell players to comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations, which might make these transfers possible.

Barcelona are running a difficult race to adhere to La Liga’s financial fair play rules. These regulations are crucial for reducing their debt and allowing them to sign new players under the 1:1 rule, which stipulates that they can spend every euro they earn. 

This financial constraint is why Barcelona have struggled to finalize deals for new players, despite being linked with numerous potential signings.

Interestingly, the financial situation isn’t unique to Barcelona. Many Premier League clubs, including Everton and Newcastle United, are in similar predicaments. 

These clubs need to balance their books and sell players before the deadline of June 30 to comply with the financial regulations.

There is hope after all

Amadou Onana could be available for a cut price. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

Among the players being linked to Barcelona to strengthen their midfield are Onana and Guimaraes. Both players are highly regarded by Barcelona’s sports management and a few weeks ago, signing either player seemed impossible due to their high market value. 

However, the need for Everton and Newcastle to sell players has given Barcelona a glimmer of hope.

Despite this hope, Barcelona face a significant challenge. Similar to the English clubs, they must first sell a key player to generate funds before they can enter negotiations for Onana or Guimaraes. 

This necessity for a major sale is critical for Barcelona to dream of adding either player to their squad.

Onana’s price tag is expected to be at least €60 million. Guimaraes, on the other hand, has a release clause of £100 million for English clubs. 

However, it is said that Newcastle might consider selling him to Barcelona or another non-English team for less than €80 million. This is still a hefty sum, but if the June 30 deadline approaches and Newcastle still need to sell, the price might drop significantly.