Barcelona midfield target could renew with Spanish giants in the coming days

Barcelona are in the market for a defensive midfielder this summer. With Sergio Busquets currently in the twilight of his career, Xavi wants to add a reliable alternative.

The new signing will likely serve as a deputy for Busquets for the next year or so, before eventually taking on the mantle of becoming the club’s number one choice in the holding midfield slot.

Barcelona have been primarily linked with a move for Ruben Neves, as the Wolves midfielder is expected to leave Molineux this summer.

But with the Premier League outfit holding out for a hefty price-tag, for the services of the Portuguese international, Barça had recently considered Martin Zubimendi as a potential alternative.

Currently plying his trade for Real Sociedad, Zubimendi has been a key figure for the Txuri-Urdin in recent years, racking up a total of 99 competitive appearances for the club.

However, as per Gerard Romero, acquiring the services of Zubimendi could prove to be an even more difficult task for FC Barcelona.

The midfielder reportedly has a €60 million release clause embedded in his current contract, with Real Sociedad having no intention to offload their prized asset in the coming summer.

In fact, the Spanish outfit are looking to offer Zubimendi a contract extension in the coming days. The new deal could see him commit his long-term future at the Reale Arena.

The 23-year-old’s staggering release clause makes him an unattainable target for Barcelona. The club are unlikely to splash such a massive fee on a player, who is yet to establish himself on the level as some of the other Barça targets in the market.

Given his style of play, the Real Sociedad starlet has real promise under the tactical philosophy of Xavi. But with the midfielder set to cost around €60 million, it would be wiser for the Catalans to look elsewhere and perhaps prioritise a move for Ruben Neves.