Barcelona begin talks with Atletico Madrid for 29-year-old winger over summer deal

in the midst of speculations over Memphis Depay’s imminent move to Atletico Madrid, Barcelona have kickstarted their efforts to strengthen the squad.

One of their priority targets is Yannick Carrasco. Reports earlier in the day suggested that the Catalans have even considered him an ideal replacement for Depay. The club are even exploring the possibility of signing the winger on a loan deal this month.

However, according to Toni Juanmarti, Barcelona have opened negotiations with Atletico Madrid for Carrasco, not for the ongoing January transfer window, but for next season.

This is hardly surprising as Los Colchoneros appeared quite adamant in offloading the Belgian international in the middle of the season, especially after losing both Joao Felix and Matheus Cunha earlier on in the month.

But with Carrasco’s contract expiring in 2024, the club from the capital appear to be open to negotiations over the player’s potential exit at the end of the season.

The report suggests Barcelona have asked Atleti for a price for Carrasco. The winger already has offers from England, but the player is open to joining the Catalans, as he looks to take the next step in his career.

Aged 29, Carrasco offers vast experience at the highest level of football, having featured in almost 250 competitive matches at Atletico Madrid. He has also won 62 caps for the Belgian national team and is known for his versatility and creativity in the final third.

The addition of the former AS Monaco starlet could prove to be a good piece of business from Barcelona’s perspective. This is because the player offers significant skillsets to the table and will not cost a fortune, due to his contract situation at Atletico Madrid.