Barcelona postpone their pursuit of 23-year-old Spanish forward to 2023

Xavi Hernandez’s preference for Spanish players is no secret. The manager has revitalized the Spanish core of the team since his arrival at the club, and the results are now visible in the La Roja setup.

Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Eric Garcia, Pedri, Gavi, and Ferran Torres are all starters in Luis Enrique’s side. Add to that Ansu Fati and the possible inclusion of Gerard Pique and Barcelona could have up to seven players in the fray for the national team.

That number could further increase now as the manager eyes Dani Olmo. The RB Leipzig player is from Barcelona’s academy and is said to be looking for a move home.

Yet, the process is not as simple as it appears. The German club demand €60 million for the Spaniard, a fee considered atrocious by the Barcelona management.

Olmo’s contract at the Bundesliga side runs till 2024. According to reports from Diario AS, the Catalans are considering waiting for a year and pursuing him in 2023.

This move would put pressure on Leipzig, for the player would be in the final year of his contract. Under those circumstances, Barcelona could get their target for a better value.

The 23-year-old possesses a versatile profile and can play as a winger or in midfield as the situation demands. Not only has he played as a number 10 for Leipzig but also taken up the role of a false nine on many occasions.

This season, Olmo has two goals, and three assists in five Bundesliga starts. He has created four big chances and missed two of them. Most recently, he scored an emphatic last-minute winner for Spain in their friendly against Albania.