Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernández would be willing to sacrifice two high-profile members of his midfield ranks, if it meant that a new deep-lying engine room star could be brought in.
That’s according to Sport, who have provided an update on developments behind the scenes in Catalunya late this evening.
It is of course common knowledge that the powers that be in Barcelona have long set their sights on fresh blood, capable of lining out at the base of Xavi’s midfield.
This comes amid the ongoing struggles of summer addition Oriol Romeu.
This past weekend, Frenkie De Jong and İlkay Gündoğan were tasked with filling the role against Real Madrid, but only succeeded in highlighting just how badly a natural ‘pivot’ is needed at the club.
It may nevertheless come as something of a surprise, however, to hear that Xavi is open to the prospect of parting with one of this pairing, to raise the required funds for a more natural fit in his side.
As per the aforementioned Sport:
‘Xavi has let it slip that, if necessary, he can ‘kill’ some of the sacred cows that roam the center of the field.’
With Pedri and Gavi considered untouchable, and neither Sergi Roberto or the aforementioned Romeu likely to bring in a considerable sum, this means that one of De Jong, or Gündoğan, looks set to be on the chopping block this summer.
Conor Laird | GSFN
