Barcelona close to signing Jean-Yves Tabla from Montreal Impact

Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla. You probably wouldn’t have heard his name of now but the teen could be Barcelona’s next superstar in the years to come. The La Liga giants are reported set to sign the Ivory Coast born player from MLS team, Montreal Impact this summer, as the highly thought of youngster look set to become a star in the coming years.

Already deepening their squad with the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Philippe Coutinho and Yerry Mina this season, we had reported on how the Catalans are not going stop at these signings. It now seems that Barcelona may have started to think about their future as they near the signing of the 18-year-old.

Montreal technical director Adam Braz told reporters on Tuesday morning that the Impact were in “very advanced discussions with a club about a permanent transfer” for the teenager. He also did not appear on Montreal’s 31-man preseason roster.

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Born in the Ivory Coast, Tabla has represented the Canadian national team at youth level, but is yet to make his bow at senior level internationally. He has been at Montreal Impact since the age of 16 years. Tabla scored 8 goals and assisted a further 5 during his first season in the MLS last year. He is mostly used on the wings at Montreal Impact but plays his most effective football up front.

Touted to potentially become the next Neymar for Barcelona, Tabla would initially sign for Barcelona B in the Segunda division. Once he completes the required age and paperwork for eligibility in La Liga, the player could be promoted up the ranks to Barcelona’s first team.

Barcelona are quit comfortable this season, as they have they have already wrapped up La Liga. For all the pessimism ahead of the season, Barcelona are running away with the league and looking quite comfortable in Europe.

Lionel Messi has been in sensational form this season, as the great man has carried Barcelona on more than one occasion. Now with the additions of Coutinho and Mina in January, Barcelona must surely be licking their lips at the thought of winning more silverware at the end of the season.