Deal Agreed: Barcelona Set To Sign Highly Rated Central Midfielder
REUTERS/Jean-Pierre Amet
After Liverpool rejected a bid from Barcelona for Philippe Coutinho for the third time, the Spanish giants are now ready to set their sights on other targets, as the transfer window inches to a close with each passing day.
The Catalan club’s new target, as reported by French outlet L’Equipe, is Jean Michaël Seri, who plays for Ligue 1 side Nice. Furthermore, the same source believes that a four-year contract has been agreed with the central midfielder.
However, what has been holding up the deal, which has been in the works for over a week now, is the negotiation over a transfer fee for the Ivory Coast international.
Seri proved instrumental for the French side after their loss of N’Golo Kanté. Time and time again, owing to his midfield intelligence, he has been compared to the latter.
Moreover, his release clause of €40 million will be easy to meet for Barcelona, who have spent the same amount to secure the services of midfielder Paulinho earlier this week.
This barely scrapes over a third of the €222 million lying in their coffers following the departure of Neymar Jr to PSG. It is the shock transfer of the Brazilian that had sent the club into a meltdown, effectively throwing a wrench into their other pursuits.
A doubt over whether the 26-year old’s release clause had expired has been removed following a tweet, suggesting that his entourage has confirmed that the clause is still intact.
If that weren’t the case, Nice would have definitely attempted to part with the player for a higher amount, owing to steady interest from Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool.
After their sound aggregate 5-1 thrashing from arch-rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup, coupled with what can only be described as an underwhelming start to their campaign, the La Liga giants will be more than eager to lure the player to the Camp Nou.
Reports about renewed interest in long term target Ousmane Dembele as well as PSG’s Angel Di Maria are also running rampant at the moment.
Written by Naveen Kelvin 
A writer trying to craft the poetry within football. Purpose in life is to Make Good Art.