The most surreal transfer news of the last few days has been the reported interest in Norwich City right back, Max Aarons from Spanish giants, Barcelona.
Barcelona are in the midst of a certain amount of turmoil at the moment due to the COVID-19 pandemic putting huge pressure on the club’s finances and having very few genuine young stars of value in a squad dominated by older, albeit excellent players, such as Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Arturo Vidal and Gerard Pique.
The world’s best player, Lionel Messi is in that age and salary bracket too but Barca would never consider selling him, despite the player’s own public desire to leave and falling out with the board. He is far too valuable both on and off the field to be allowed to leave, although he is out of contract next summer. You can be rest assured that the board will do everything in it’s power to keep Messi at the Nou Camp for the rest of his career.
Part of that will be a re-structuring of the squad, as promised in the wake of Messi-gate this summer, by Club President Josep Bartomeu. There have already been outgoings, with Vidal leaving for Inter Milan for around £950k just to get his wages off the books. The same is about to happen with Messi’s best friend, Luis Suarez, who is being sold to Atletico Madrid, no doubt against Messi’s wishes. Ivan Rakitic already moved back to former club, Sevilla earlier in the summer and Nelson Semedo has just been sold to Wolves and there lies an issue for Barca, not to mention Ajax and Norwich City.
Portuguese international right back, Semedo needs replacing and Barca are looking at one of two players to fill that role in the squad. Either Ajax’s Sergino Dest or City’s Max Aarons.
Respected journalist and Spanish La Liga expert, Guillum Balague has had the inside track on most of this tale and he says that Barca are confident that their first choice, Dest could be signed this week.
… Ajax and FCB have been talking this week.
Bayern surprised as they thought they were ahead, but player wants to go to Barcelona. Catalan media also in favour of the Ajax player
— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) September 23, 2020
Bayern Munich have reportedly been interested in both young players as well and Aarons has been linked to Bayern already this summer. If Barca manage to sign Dest, does that mean that Bayern will turn their attention to Max? There are two weeks to go in this transfer window yet and there will be a few more twists and turns yet. That, you can be sure of.
OTBC