Barcelona set to miss out on €60 million-rated target as Manchester United enter race

Barcelona might miss out on their midfield target Joshua Kimmich as a report from SPORT claims that Premier League giants Manchester United are looking at him as a potential replacement for Casemiro.

It is no secret that Barcelona have their eyes on Kimmich to bolster their midfield, which has been weakened since Sergio Busquets left. 

The German international has a little over a year left on his contract with Bayern and his price tag is rumoured to be below €50 million, which seems reasonable in this market, although Barcelona’s financial situation is currently too delicate to afford such a sum.

Barcelona can still sign Kimmich, but…

It is said that Barcelona still have a slight chance of signing Kimmich, although a lot depends on Manchester United.

For the Blaugrana to acquire the German international, the midfielder must finish his current contract with Bayern Munich.

This means he can only join Barcelona in the summer of 2025 as a free agent—a tricky proposition given the keen interest from top European clubs in his future.

Manchester United have set their sights on Joshua Kimmich. (Photo by UWE KRAFT/AFP via Getty Images)

Among them, Manchester United stand out, as they are on the lookout for a midfielder to fill the void that Casemiro would leave. Despite a stellar debut season, the experienced Brazilian has struggled this term due to injury, prompting United to seek a replacement. 

At 32 years old, with a hefty salary and three years remaining on his contract, United aim to offload Casemiro and recoup some of the €70 million they splurged on him two summers ago.

It is believed that Manchester United’s radar has zeroed in on Kimmich, with the German midfielder stalling on contract talks with Bayern and expressing a desire to experience the Premier League. 

United are determined to outmanoeuvre rivals Liverpool and Tottenham in securing Kimmich’s services, making him a priority target for their midfield overhaul. 

Since there is already a lot of competition for the German, the chances of him moving to Barcelona look extremely bleak.

*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication