Barcelona are interested in Atletico Madrid’s midfielder Saul Niguez and ready to meet their demands.
Barcelona have been in a shopping spree over the last four transfer windows. They broke the transfer record twice and welcomed the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho, and Frenkie De Jong will be joining them in the forthcoming summer window as they prepare to upgrade their roster.
There are several reports quoting that the board have decided to sell Ivan Rakitic in the summer transfer window. The Croatian International is going to make way for the incoming Ajax midfielder De Jong. Besides, Sergio Busquets has not been at his best over the last two season. The Spanish midfielder could be replaced by his compatriot.
Saul Niguez has made the most tackles in La Liga since the beginning of last season (189).
Atlético’s backbone? pic.twitter.com/S5Y21KHkog
— SolaStats (@SolaStats) February 18, 2019
Better call Saul!
The papers say Barcelona are going to make a massive bid in the summer for Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez.
It’s the gossip! https://t.co/C7g1QXbB5r pic.twitter.com/l3OHnRcioy— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 24, 2019
According to the Spanish publication AS, the Blaugrana are interested in luring the midfielder Saul Niguez to Camp Nou in the hopes of taking the squad to another level. It is understood that the club are ready to match Atletico Madrid’s price which is around 110 million euros.
Saul has been on Barcelona’s radar for some time. When he was close to leaving the club in 2016, Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid managed to keep hold of him which saw him signing a new ten-year contract. Not too often do these players commit to the club on a long-term basis.
His released clause has increased from 80 million to 150 million after signing a new contract at Wanda Metropolitano. As mouth-watering that figure may have seemed in the past, recent developments in the football transfer market makes it much more plausible.
The money raised from the sale of Ivan Rakitic would be raised to invite Saul Niguez to Barcelona as per the reports. Barcelona are aware that other European clubs are trying to covert him and secure his signature.
Saul Niguez has made the most tackles in La Liga since the beginning of last season (189).
Atlético’s backbone? pic.twitter.com/S5Y21KHkog
— SolaStats (@SolaStats) February 18, 2019
❗️ Barcelona want to sign Atlético Madrid midfielder Saúl Ñíguez and are willing to pay 110 million euros, making him the most expensive Spanish footballer in history. It would mean the goodbye of Ivan Rakitić. [as] pic.twitter.com/w5vTeGvAEZ
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) February 23, 2019
The reigning Spanish Champions will have to battle with Chelsea to sign him. Since the English outfit are hit the transfer ban, the possibility of transfer to Chelsea is very less unless the ban gets overturned. The Blues were ready to meet the player’s release clause, but the deal did not go through last summer.
Since Antoine Griezmann’s salary has been given an increase, Saul and Diego Costa have been vocal about that commensurate value and wages. Should Barcelona hand over ludicrous wages, there is every chance that the transfer could materialize.
