Barcelona transfer news has dominated the headlines, having overseen a summer of transfer activities, with stalwarts like Ivan Rakitic returning to former club Sevilla, Arturo Vidal reuniting with Antonio Conte at Inter Milan, Nelson Semedo joining Wolverhampton Wanderers and the legendary Luis Suarez signing for Atletico Madrid.
There have also been new arrivals, with the Blaugrana pipping Bayern Munich to the signing of USA international Sergino Dest from Ajax.
The 19-year-old was signed for €21m plus €5m in add-ons and is expected to provide competition for Sergi Roberto at the right-back spot, while also securing Barcelona’s future in the position.
🇺🇸 The American Dream in Barcelona.
🔵🔴 @sergino_dest, welcome to Barça! #DE2TCuler pic.twitter.com/gq6avTiHq8— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 1, 2020
However, the club are not done yet in the market and according to sporting director Ramon Planes, who although not explicit on the nature on the plans for the future assured that Dest ”won’t be the last” to sign for the Blaugrana before the transfer window shuts down on October 5.
This gives Barcelona less than two days to complete any potential deals and the player that they have most been linked with is Manchester City defender Eric Garcia.
The 19-year-old began his development at the famed La Masia but transferred to the Etihad in 2017 and made his Premier League debut for Guardiola’s side in September 2019.
He has, however, failed to sign an extension to his current deal amidst speculation of a return back to Camp Nou and his manager was not forthcoming when he was asked questions about the defender’s future.
At his pre-match conference for the league fixture with Leeds United, Pep Guardiola said:
“Today he’s our player, on Monday finishes the transfer window so I don’t know, I don’t know exactly what is going to happen,”
“I know he wants to live there, I know Barcelona wants him but I think there’s no deal between the clubs. This is what I know right now, so how it is going to finish I don’t know.”
It is believed that Barcelona are trying to fund the deal by selling Jean-Claire Todibo to Fulham for €18m, although the French defender is understood to not be happy with this suggestion.
Todibo signed for Barcelona from Toulouse in January 2019 but he struggled for playing time and spent the second half of the 2019-20 season on loan at Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga.
Eric Garcia is seen by many to be the long-term successor to Gerard Pique and Barcelona are eager to bring him back home, with a reported bid of €10m being lined up and City have to sanction a purchase now or risk losing him for free when his contract expires next June.
Another player who has constantly been linked with the Catalans is Lyon captain Memphis Depay, with Ronald Koeman having identified him as a key transfer target.
Both men worked with one another at international level with the Netherlands and Koeman is said to have been impressed with his abilities and having sanctioned the sale of Luis Suarez, the former Everton man is keen on reuniting with Depay.
The 26-year-old had a forgettable experience at Manchester United but rediscovered his best form at Lyon and suggested that a move could be on the cards when he gave a cryptic message at the end of August.
In the absence of Suarez, youngster Ansu Fati has flourished with three goals from just two league games but his manager remains convinced on the need to sign a proven forward like Memphis Depay.
It remains to be seen if the Netherlands international will complete a move to Camp Nou but with two days to go, we could yet see more updates about Barcelona transfer news.
