Barcelona’s sporting director chosen midfield target will cost €80 million

Signing a new defensive midfielder will be one of Barcelona’s priorities as the club look to reinforce the squad in the coming summer.

Barcelona’s main objective is to find a long-term replacement for Sergio Busquets. While the club have explored options such as Joshua Kimmich and Martin Zubimendi, sporting director Deco is also keeping tabs on Amadou Onana.

Onana in high demand

According to Mundo Deportivo, Amadou Onana is in high demand as we approach the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

Known for his athleticism and work ethic, Onana has made a solid impression in the Premier League, notably becoming an ever-present figure in the Everton midfield.

Onana’s performances have played a key role in helping Everton evade the relegation scrap, with the club currently nine points away from the drop zone.

Several obstacles for Barcelona

Onana’s performances have not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona among the clubs keen on acquiring his services in the coming summer.

However, Barça’s pursuit of Onana is quite complicated. For one, the club are set to face strong competition from Premier League giants such as Chelsea, Man United and Arsenal in the race to sign the Everton midfielder.

But more importantly, Onana’s high valuation could price Barcelona out of a move. The report, in fact, suggests that Onana could cost somewhere in the region of €70-80 million, which, at this point, is hard to assume for Barcelona.

Onana could have been available for a cut-price deal this summer had it not been for Everton’s late recovery, which has helped the club secure Premier League status.

The Catalans, therefore, are likely to shift their attention to other alternatives, as they continue their search for a long-term replacement for Busquets.