Barcelona were close to signing legendary La Liga midfielder in the winter

Dani Parejo has been a great servant for Villarreal in recent years. Since joining the club in 2020, he has featured prominently in the midfield, racking up 142 appearances in all competitions.

However, Parejo has also been a subject of interest for Barcelona. According to Nacho Sanchis, Barça head coach Xavi Hernandez had shown great desire to sign the midfielder during Christmas, just before the winter transfer window.

At one point, he was very close to joining Barcelona, but the move did not materialise due to various reasons, including the club’s poor financial condition.

But as per the report, Parejo’s potential move to Barcelona could be a possibility in the coming summer. Although the veteran’s contract at Villarreal does not expire until 2024, there is a special clause that would allow him to leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the season.

This should enable Barcelona to make a move for the Spaniard, with the club specifically targeting free agents.

That being said, the report suggests Parejo feels comfortable at Villarreal. He is a leader, who is regarded highly at the club. With that in mind, the Yellow Submarines are looking to extend his contract and eliminate the clause that allows him to leave the club as a free agent.

The new deal could see his contract extended to 2026. In fact, the report adds that Parejo’s contract extension could be a possibility in the coming weeks, which could be a blow for Barcelona, as they look to strengthen their options in the middle of the park.

Fortunately for the Catalans, there is no shortage of options in the market. They have been notably linked with a move for Ilkay Gundogan, although luring the Manchester City star could be a tricky business due to the player’s high salary demands.