It was never going to be simple to replace Sergio Busquets. The former captain left Barcelona this summer after a legendary spell at the club, and the club are now scampering from pillar to post looking for a replacement.
At first, there appeared to be options aplenty on the market. Sofyan Amrabat, Joshua Kimmich, Marcelo Brozovic, and Martin Zubimendi were some of the names considered at Spotify Camp Nou. However, none materialised owing to the club’s precarious economic situation.
Xavi Hernandez has always maintained that the defensive midfield is his priority as the position to be reinforced in the summer. In a cash-strapped situation, the hunt has only gotten more difficult.
Oriol Romeu has emerged as the latest target on that front. The Girona star has a release clause of just €8 million on his contract and is a smart choice for the Catalans given his La Masia roots. However, his name has not generated consensus within the club offices yet.
According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, the internal debate over Romeu continues to rage in the administration. However, Barcelona plan on opening new contacts with the player as well his club, Girona, to finalise the transfer, in what comes as a positive development.
The coming days will be critical in the board’s analysis of the market opportunity and economic feasibility of his arrival.
Barcelona will hold talks with both Girona and the player in the coming days. The plan is to sign the player for two seasons with an option for a third.
Although a transfer will depend largely on Girona’s flexibility on the transfer fee. The chance of them offering an exemption, however, is bleak as they continue to point at the midfielder’s €8 million release clause.
Romeu, for his part, is understood to be keen on a move back to his boyhood club. So, personal terms are unlikely to be an issue. However, negotiations with Girona could be a whole other thing.
