Barcelona wonder kid Gavi has attracted interest from the Premier League heavyweights Liverpool and Manchester City. The Player has just one and a half years remaining on his contract with the Catalan giants and has a release clause of £42 million. Gavi has established himself as a first-team regular this season under the management of club legend Xavi.
The 17-year-old Spanish starlet has made 16 La Liga appearances this season and has scored 1 and assisted 3 league goals. He also featured for the National team twice last year in World Cup qualifiers. His partnership with another club youngster Pedri in midfield will be crucial for Barcelona for the years to come. Pedri-Gavi’s partnership is something similar to Iniesta-Xavi’s rise at the club 20 years ago.
Andres Iniesta and Xavi dominated European football with their visionary passing skills and played a big role in Lionel Messi’s rise at Barcelona. Pedri and Gavi can emulate the same providing role to sensational forward Ansu Fati under the guidance of Xavi.
But Camp Nou side are struggling with financial regulations and that will force them to accept big for any player. Last week, Barcelona completed the signing for Ferran Torres from Manchester City for a reported fee of £54 million. And now looking to offload some big stars to balance the wage books, which saw the loan departure of club-record signing Philippe Coutinho to Aston Villa. Barcelona are struggling in the league table with just 31 points this season, 15 points behind leaders Real Madrid but just 2 points behind 3rd placed Real Betis.
Liverpool And Manchester City To Battle For Gavi But Player Has Different Plan?
Football pundits are already tipping Gavi-Pedri-Fati to emulate Iniesta-Xavi-Messi’s heroics at Camp Nou. Gavi has similarities with Iniesta’s play and that was a big success for Barcelona last decade. Losing any of this trio will hurt Catalans in the long-term future but due to financial stretch, one of them is expected to be sold in the summer.
Liverpool are already exploring their options by scouting young midfielders since the last summer. Jurgen Klopp has promoted academy prospects Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliot in midfield and both have been impressive so far. Liverpool are set to retire the 36-year-old James Milner at the end of the season and Henderson will be 32 in the summer. So securing the next potential midfielder will be a big statement from the Reds.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is a big admirer of Gavi and is willing to sign him in the summer. Guardiola was there when Iniesta and Xavi rose in Spanish football. He will be a perfect guide for Gavi and an ideal partner for Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne at Etihad. According to a report from the Daily Mail, Manchester City will find it hard to convince the youngster who is hesitant about such a big move at the early stage of his career.
? Man City and Liverpool are both being linked with a move for Barcelona midfielder Gavi in the local Catalan press.
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 8, 2022
Both Liverpool and Manchester City have been dominating English football in the last five years and possess the best players to continue doing so. So the signing of next-generation-defined players like Gavi will be key for them to overcome each other.