Barcelona transfer news: Trincão & Fernandes deals confirmed | Deadline day
Despite sitting second in La Liga, things aren’t exactly going too well for Barcelona.
The Catalan club went through somewhat of an identity crisis under Ernesto Valverde and their performances suffered as a result. Quique Setien has replaced him and things are on the up, despite a recent defeat to Valencia.
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Although second does not sound bad, the Blaugrana have lost four times already, three more than leaders Real Madrid and are facing a large part of the season remaining without Luis Suarez.
They have, today, agreed a deal with Portuguese outfit Braga to sign highly-rated forward Francisco Trincão in the summer for £26 million. The 20-year-old will sign a five-year deal with the Catalans and will offer them a versatile option in attack.
DONE DEAL: Barcelona have confirmed they have reached an agreement with SC Braga for the transfer of Francisco Trincao for a fee of €31m, signing a five-year contract.
He will join the club on July 1st. pic.twitter.com/wuUn1Mswmb
— Play Squawka Selector for Free (@Squawka_Live) January 31, 2020
The Portuguese youngster is left-footed and often plays wide on the left yet he is comfortable in a number of positions and could feature anywhere across the front line for Barcelona.
Barcelona certainly left it late to complete their January business with Brazilian midfielder Matheus Fernandes following Trincão to the club in a deadline day move from Brazilian side Palmeiras.
Fernandes has signed a five-year deal with Barcelona which contains a release clause worth £251m and he too will link up with Setien’s side in July ahead of pre-season.
DONE DEAL: @FCBarcelona have confirmed the signing of Matheus Fernandes from Palmeiras for an initial €7m fee with an additional €3m paid in add-ons.
The 21-year-old will join the club in July on a five-year-deal which includes a €300m release clause. pic.twitter.com/xUwFCnKRn2
— Play Squawka Selector for Free (@Squawka_Live) January 31, 2020
Fernandes is a Brazil U20 international and won the Campeonato Carioca with Botafogo in 2018 prior to joining Palmeiras last year.
With Suarez injured they will still be chasing a replacement as they have throughout the window but will they get one before the Spanish transfer window closes on Friday night?
Barcelona transfer business so far
IN: Francisco Trincão (Braga, £26m), Matheus Fernandes (Palmeiras, £8.3m)
OUT: Jean-Clair Todibo (Schalke, loan), Carles Alena (Real Betis, loan).
Barcelona transfer targets
As previously mentioned, there is pretty much one aim for Barcelona in January: sign a striker. It is a similar situation to the one they found themselves in last year, when they were chasing Carlos Vela and ended up with Kevin-Prince Boateng but this time it’s more urgent.
Suarez picked up a knee injury in early January which required surgery, leaving the Uruguayan out until May. Although Antoine Griezmann and Lionel Messi are capable of playing through the middle, both are more accustomed to playing on the wing at Barcelona and options past the pair are thin. In Barcelona‘s 2-0 defeat to Valencia, the pair lined up together a strikers with Jordi Alba and Ansu Fati providing the width as wing-backs.
And Setien has previously admitted Barcelona are looking to sign a new striker before the January transfer window closes.
“It’s true we’re speaking about it. But we still have to move things on a little bit,” he said.
“Everything else has to be studied exhaustively, then we will see what the most convenient [option] is.
“It’s an issue I still can’t answer and I am not going to do so. I have spoken about something with the club, but nothing in concrete.
“They’re internal issues and it’s preferable for me if you don’t ask me, because I am not going to say anything, so let’s not waste time.”
READ MORE: Dream, realistic & wildcard options as Barcelona look to replace Luis Suarez in transfer market
Barcelona transfer rumours
Richarlison
Having given up their chase of Rodrigo, Barcelona‘s search for a striker reportedly saw their attention turn to Everton’s Richarlison, who is 2/1* to join Barcelona before the January transfer window closes.
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According to Sky Sports, the Blaugrana made a £85m bid for the Brazilian which was immediately rejected by Everton who do not wish to sell their star man for any price.
Richarlison is reportedly a favourite of Barcelona sporting director Eric Abidal and was eyed as both a replacement and potential partner for Suarez when the Uruguayan returns from injury
The fee would have seen Everton more than double their money on Richarlison having signed him for around £40m in 2018, but the Brazilian has proved to be important to the Toffees, scoring 24 goals in 65 games.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Barcelona like their Premier League forwards it seems, with the club also being linked with a move for Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gabonese forward is a target of the La Liga side, according to the Telegraph, and would be a more than suitable replacement for Suarez.
Aubameyang has scored 14 goals in 22 Premier League games for Arsenal this season, the same amount as Barcelona‘s top La Liga scorer Messi, and three more than Luis Suarez – though he has played more minutes than the pair.
The move would also give Barcelona a good option in the Champions League, a competition Aubameyang will no doubt want to play in again. However, the Arsenal captain has recently pledged his future to the Gunners.
Wissam Ben Yedder
Another reported transfer target, another forward, this time Wissam Ben Yedder. The French forward has been in fine form for Monaco this season and leads the way in Ligue 1 with 14 goals, again level with Messi among Barcelona‘s players.
Ben Yedder, 29, would be an ideal signing for Barcelona with experience in La Liga, scoring 38 goals in 91 games for Sevilla before returning to his native France in the summer.
And, according to French publication Foot Mercato, Barcelona have made a £67m bid for the forward, double what Monaco paid for him in the previous window.
Ivan Rakitic
One player who seems to be constantly linked with a move away from Barcelona is Ivan Rakitic and, with the transfer deadline just a few days away, the rumours continue.
According to Sport, Barcelona would be open to selling the Croatian midfielder if the right offer comes in.
Rakitic has pledged his allegiance to Barcelona on numerous occasions this season amid links to Manchester United and Inter Milan among other clubs but the 31-year-old remains on the periphery at Camp Nou. He has made 22 appearances for Barcelona across all competitions this season, totalling just 966 minutes with the likes of Sergio Busquets, Frenkie de Jong and Arthur ahead of him.
