New Barcelona coach expresses desire to sign Bundesliga title winner

It is only a matter of time before Hansi Flick gets officiated as the new Barcelona manager.

The German tactician is all set to replace Xavi Hernandez next season and could sign a one-year contract, with an option to extend for a further year.

Flick will join with vast experience and knowledge of German football. He is expected to utilise that knowledge in order to reinforce Barcelona in the coming summer.

Flick interested in Exequiel Palacios

According to Bar Canaletes, Flick has already started ideating his thoughts and opinions into Barcelona’s squad planning for the season ahead.

As per the report, Flick, during an extended conversation with sporting director Deco, has expressed his desire to sign Exequiel Palacios.

The Argentine has been a vital cog in the Bayer Leverkusen midfield this season, with his contributions helping Die Werkself win the Bundesliga title under Xabi Alonso.

Palacios has impressed onlookers with his versatility in midfield, which is coupled with his aggression and ability to operate in an intense pressing unit.

Is Palacios the answer to Barcelona’s midfield woes? (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)

That is what makes him an appealing target for Hansi Flick, who is likely to implement a more style of football once he joins Barcelona.

The midfield unit, though, is one of Barça’s key weaknesses, especially after the departure of Sergio Busquets last summer. The existing options such as Pedri have had struggles with injuries while Frenkie de Jong faces an uncertain future ahead.

The addition of a new midfielder, therefore, could be paramount and that is where Exequiel Palacios comes into the fray.

How much will Palacios cost?

Securing the services of Palacios, though, could be tricky for Barcelona. As mentioned earlier, the Argentine is one of Leverkusen’s most important players in midfield and his brilliant season has shot up his price tag.

The report speculates that Palacios could cost somewhere around €40 million, which could prove to be a problem for FC Barcelona.

The Catalans, though, are hopeful of utilising new economic levers in the weeks to come – levers that could help them balance the books and bring in fresh revenue.

And with Flick pressing for the signing of Palacios, it will be interesting to see how Barcelona approach this problem.