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Barcelona parted ways with Xavi at the end of last season and wasted little time in appointing Hansi Flick as his replacement. The German manager is now working to assemble a squad of his liking before the start of the new campaign.
Meanwhile, Manchester United are interested in a move for a Dutch midfielder this summer. Elsewhere, the Catalans have been offered the chance to sign Kingsley Coman this year.
On that note, let's look at the major Barcelona transfer stories from August 8, 2024.
Manchester United eyeing Frenkie de Jong
Manchester United are ready to reignite their interest in Frenkie de Jong, according to journalist Michael Plant. The Dutch defender is a long-term target for Erik ten Hag, who has previously tried to take him to Old Trafford.
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The Red Devils agreed to a €85m fee with Barcelona for De Jong in 2022, only for the player to refuse to leave. The Premier League giants have retained their interest in the 27-year-old and are ready to try again this summer.
The Catalans are all set to rope in Dani Olmo on an expensive deal this summer. The La Liga giants have reportedly agreed to pay RB Leipzig €62m for the Spaniard. Barcelona are under financial distress and such a move is likely to put a dent in their pocket.
While De Jong remains in their plans, they could be willing to cash in on the player to raise funds for further additions. Interestingly, the Dutchman reportedly earns a massive €720k per week at Camp Nou, so his departure will be beneficial for the club's finances.
Manchester United are currently focused on securing Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Should they fail to agree to a deal for the Uruguayan, the Red Devil will turn their attention to De Jong. The Premier League giants are willing to offer £30-40m for the 27-year-old, who is under contract with the Catalans until 2026.
Barcelona offered chance to sign Kingsley Coman
Barcelona have been offered the chance to sign Kingsley Coman this year, according to SPORT. The Catalans have been hot on the heels of Nico Williams all summer.
The Spaniard is coming off a fantastic campaign with club and country and has caught the imagination of the Camp Nou hierarchy. However, it now appears that Williams will stay with Atletico Madrid for at least another season.
The situation could force the La Liga giants to consider alternatives as they look to shore up their attack. They have now been offered the chance to sign Coman this summer.
The French forward has apparently been deemed surplus to requirements by new Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany. The Bavarians are willing to cash in on Coman and he has been linked with a reunion with Hansi Flick at Camp Nou.
The German manager is aware of the 28-year-old's abilities, having worked together at the Allianz Arena. Flick trusts Coman and could be tempted to take him to Barcelona this year. The player's contract runs until 2027, but he could be available for a reduced fee.
However, the Catalans remain focused on Nico Williams at the moment and are ready to move mountains to get their man. They will only consider alternate targets once they are convinced that a move for the 22-year-old is impossible this summer.
Aston Villa eyeing Joao Felix, says Fabrizio Romano
Aston Villa remain in the mix for Joao Felix's signature this summer, according to acclaimed journalist Fabrizio Romano. The Portuguese forward spent last season on loan at Barcelona from Atletico Madrid and had a decent campaign.
The Catalans are willing to take him back, but can only afford a loan deal this year. However, Los Rojiblancos are pushing for a permanent deal. The club are all set to welcome Julian Alvarez from Manchester City, which could mark the end of Felix's time at the Civitas Metropolitan Stadium.
In his column for Caught Offside, Romano added that Unai Emery is keen to take the 24-year-old to Villa Park.
“With Felix, keep an eye on Aston Villa because the appreciation from Villa Park is still there – Unai Emery really loves Felix as a player. It’s still not decided where Felix will go next, it’s not being decided now, but I wanted to clarify that he was not part of the Alvarez negotiations," wrote Romano.
He continued:
“So, the Felix story is not closed yet, and at the moment Atletico are obviously busy with other deals, so we’ll see again in the next few days if the Felix situation will be discussed and what it could mean for his future. Villa are still there, but it’s not time for a breakthrough in this deal just yet.”
Barcelona are putting all their efforts into securing Nico Williams at the moment and will only turn to Felix once their primary targets for the summer are secured.
