Barcelona not giving up on €20 million La Liga midfielder, could offer Spanish youngster in swap

Barcelona have entered the January transfer window with the hopes of signing a midfielder who can cover for Gavi’s injury, while also playing an important role as a pivot given Oriol Romeu’s poor performances.

Moreover, it has been reported that Xavi wants to return to his four-man midfield system. He wants to shake things up by adding some much-needed control to the team, while arguably cutting back on the attack.

One of the players they are pursuing is Girona captain Aleix Garcia. The Spaniard claimed it was his ‘dream to play for Barcelona’ despite being seven points clear off of his derby rivals in the table right now.

Girona manager, Michel, has since talked about this on a few occasions, including today, when he said, “I feel that Aleix won’t leave us.”

“Honestly I’d hurt if Aleix left. I don’t say that because of Barça, but just because we’d lose a key player for us. But again, I feel he’s staying,” he added.

However, a report from SPORT claims that Barcelona are not giving up their pursuit of Garcia this winter.

Good relationship with Girona

Despite Michel’s statements, Barcelona and Girona are on rather good terms. The transfer of Romeu for €3.5 million, plus the loan of Pablo Torre and Eric Garcia the other way are a testament of the same.

Joan Laporta also went as far as to say that he wishes that he is hoping for a Girona title win this season, apart from Barcelona, of course.

Torre/Faye in swap deal?

Garcia has a release clause of €20 million in his contract. Barcelona cannot afford that, and are considering other formulas to bring the deal to life.

One option is to include Pablo Torre in a swap deal, who is already on loan at the club. While he is not starting for them right now, his ceiling is considered very high, and Girona could eventually end up benefitting with him in the team.

That would obviously not negate the entire release clause, but could reduce it to three-fourths, or even half.

Alternatively, the blaugranes could also use Barcelona Atletic centre-back Mika Faye in a swap. Girona are interested in his signing, and have already scouted him on a few occasions.

They need a centre-back in the squad after Bernardo Espinosa’s departure in January, and could budge to sign Faye from Barcelona, even on loan.