Not more than a few weeks ago, Barcelona were poised to make Guido Rodriguez their first major signing of the summer ahead.
The Real Betis midfielder was supposed to join the club on a free transfer, with his current contract expiring at the end of June.
However, ever since the appointment of Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s deal to sign Rodriguez has stalled, even though the German had supposedly given Barça the green light to go after the Argentine.
Recent reports indicate that Barcelona’s agreed deal with Rodriguez had expired on May 31, meaning the club must now secure a new agreement with the player, who is open to talking to other clubs.
Barcelona shift their focus to Javi Guerra
In the midst of uncertainty surrounding Barcelona’s pursuit of Guido Rodriguez, a recent report from MARCA suggests that the club have shifted their focus to other alternatives.
Barcelona are particularly seeking a move for Javi Guerra. The Valencia youngster has emerged as a top target for the Catalans lately, as the club look to reinforce the ranks in the midfield department.
It appears Barça are ideally looking for a player who has a similar profile to Gavi. That is where Javi Guerra comes into the fray.
The Spaniard is a much more nimble footballer and will be able to offer more technicality in the middle of the park. Guido Rodriguez, in contrast, is more similar to Andreas Christensen – a sturdy and abrasive defensive midfielder.
Can Barça seal the deal?
Securing a deal for Javi Guerra, however, will be quite the challenge for Barcelona, who are once again stuck in an economic downturn.
The Catalans are awaiting a final call from La Liga to figure out their potential spending limit and FFP margins.
The report adds that Guerra is expected to cost somewhere around €20-25 million. Interestingly, Valencia are interested in a move for Barcelona’s attacking outcast Vitor Roque, though the two operations are not linked to each other.
