FC Barcelona Transfer News: Another Brazilian target, Rakitic to PSG and more - September 21, 2018

After a 100% start to the 2018/19 season in both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, things are going well for FC Barcelona.

However, in the modern world of football, standing still means going backward. This is something that the Blaugrana board led by Josep Bartomeu will not want due to the ill-feeling towards them from a vocal section of the club’s support.

The winter transfer window is still 3 months away but already, whispers have begun to emerge from the Camp Nou offices about potential buys in January/the summer as well as about potential departures.

Let’s catch up with the latest transfer gossip as it concerns the Blaugrana, one of Europe’s most storied clubs:

#5 Genoa’s Piatek flattered by Barcelona link

Piatek's already been seen as a potential Barca target

After a scintillating start to life in Serie A, strong rumours have emerged linking Barcelona to Polish striker Krzysztof Piatek.

The 23-year-old Pole who has been compared to countryman Robert Lewandowski due to his style of play and physique joined Genoa this summer for 3.6m from Cracovia.

He has started the season like a house on fire with 4 goals in his first three games for I Rossoblu (The Red and Blues). According to Goal.com, the Barca hierarchy have been impressed by what they have seen so far.

However, Piatek has made it clear that while he is flattered by the news, he made it clear that he is focused on giving his best for his new team. Asked about the rumours and comparison to his more famous countryman, he told Sky Italia that

“That start of the season has been good, but I’m not thinking about it [the speculation]. I look forward and I’m already focused on the next match against Lazio.

“I can’t be compared to Lewandowski - he plays for Bayern Munich, myself at Genoa.

“I don’t think the links with Barcelona are true, even though I’ve heard about it…

#4 PSG to try again for Rakitic

PSG may try for Rakitic again in January

The rumour mill was agog towards the end of the summer transfer window about a move by French champions PSG for Barca midfielder Ivan Rakitic.

The World Cup finalist has endured a tough couple of years with some ignorant Cules picking on the Croatian midfielder for very silly reasons. The French team had seen Rakitic as the perfect player to make their midfield stronger following the retirement of Thiago Motta and the sale of Javier Pastore.

However, no deal was done due to Barca’s reported €100m valuation of the 30-year-old. The performance against Liverpool in the Champions League has set alarm bells ringing at the Parc des Princes.

Coach Thomas Tuchel was forced to play Marquinhos and Angel Di Maria in midfield, with disastrous consequences. As a result, the Parisiens look set to return for Rakitic in January.

With Adrien Rabiot said to be stalling on a new deal, Eurosports.com is reporting that PSG sporting director Antero Henrique may offer the Frenchman (a Barcelona target) and money to get Rakitic to Paris in a €125m deal.

It remains to be seen if the Barca board will agree to this sort of deal.

#3 Pedrinho still on Barcelona’s to-do list

Pedrinho is the latest Brazilian starlet on Barca's radar

It seems that Bartomeu has signed a pact to Make Barcelona Brazilian Again (MBBA). After adding Philippe Coutinho, Paulinho, Arthur Melo, Malcom, Marlon Santos, and others so far, young Corinthians winger Pedrinho is the latest Brazilian target.

According to Goal.com’s Brazilian expert, Bruno Andrade, the Serie A side has slapped a €25m price tag on the exciting 20-year-old.

The youngster made his debut for Corinthians 18 months ago but already is being viewed as a viable prospect for the Blaugrana. Barcelona’s Latin America transfer expert, Andre Cury is said to have already had meetings with the club’s board.

The youngster is mainly a right winger but can play across the frontline. He has made 28 appearances across all competitions for Timão (Great Team) as Corinthians are known this season with 3 assists and no goals.

#2 Barcelona had a €30m offer for De Jong rejected

De Jong is still one of Barca's prime targets

The rumours around a Frenkie De Jong to Barca move have refused to go away despite the close of the transfer window and the Blaugrana’s good start to the season.

The 21-year-old Dutch international is highly regarded by scouts across Europe and according to Bleacher Report, the club offered Ajax €30m for his services in the summer transfer window. Barcelona even offered to allow the youngster to stay back at the Amsterdam Arena for a year.

However, Ajax stuck to its guns and refused to do business. Sporting director Marc Overmars and manager Erik Ten Haag are huge fans of De Jong’s and want him to stay for as long as possible.

Barcelona is still hopeful of doing a deal as soon as possible, mindful of the fact that Manchester City, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur are also said to be circling. The De Jong deal may pave the way for Barca to offload Rakitic but at the moment, the situation remains fluid.

#1 Abdial watches Pogba shine in UCL

Pogba was majestic against Young Boys

The gist that Barcelona wants to add French international Paul Pogba to its ranks is no longer news. However, it seems that La Liga giants are cranking up the drive to get the World Cup winner’s signature.

According to Tribalfootball, Barca’s technical secretary of football and former player Eric Abidal was in the stands at the Suisse Stadium in Manchester United’s UEFA Champions League clash with Young Boys on Wednesday.

Pogba had put up a man-of-the-match display scoring twice and making an assist as Jose Mourinho's men ran out comfortable 3-0 winners. Despite a thawing of tensions between himself and his Portuguese manager, it is believed that Pogba still wants to make the move to the Camp Nou as soon as possible.

Barca on their part, are said to regard the Frenchman as a priority signing and although they won’t make a move in January, Abidal has reportedly been given the mandate to ensure that the 25-year-old arrives in Spain next summer.