Barcelona President Joan Laporta has told the media that the club do not need to make any major sales this summer, but the majority predict there will be a number of exits from Catalonia. One of those could be Mikayil Faye, who is due to move up from Barca Atletic to the first team, but has significant competition.
While the latest is that Barcelona are still deciding what to do with Faye this summer, and that he will start preseason with the senior side, clubs are already looking at Faye as an option. Arsenal have been strongly linked in recent weeks, while the likes of Manchester United and Juventus have also scouted him.
Barcelona have received an enquiry from Porto and Sporting Director Andoni Zubizarreta, who was in the same role at Barcelona a decade ago. He would be interested in a transfer with a buyback clause for Barcelona, in the same way as happened with Nico Gonzalez. The Blaugrana would be willing to contemplate offers from €15m upwards, with bonuses on top of that and a buyback option, as per Sport.
Zubizarreta’s toughest task may be persuading Barcelona and Faye that Porto is the best destination for him, but his relationship with the club may aid that. Barcelona Sporting Director Deco would prefer to see him in the first team, but it is aware of the economic reality, and there have already been enquiries from La Liga sides over a loan or a small transfer with a buyback. Deco wants to maintain control over Faye’s future though, which would be more difficult if he heads to the Premier League.
Unless there is a major exit from the Barcelona central defensive ranks, then it is difficult to see Faye getting minutes in the first team, and naturally Hansi Flick will have to evaluate the 19-year-old. Working in Faye’s favour is that he can play left-back, and could be an alternative to Alejandro Balde, with only the possible return of Joao Cancelo and Hector Fort providing competition.