Barcelona to miss out on leading pivot target as Aston Villa swoop in with £50m offer

Barcelona are determined to sign a top-level pivot this summer, given that it is an area where they desperately lacked last season. They could struggle to make a big-money move because they are prioritising Nico Williams, and it now appears that they’re set to miss out on one of their primary targets.

Gavi will attend tomorrow's EURO 2024 final. @martinezferran

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) July 13, 2024

As reported by David Ornstein of The Athletic (via MD), Aston Villa are in advanced negotiations with Everton over a deal for Amadou Onana. A fee of £50m has been discussed between the two Premier League clubs, and personal terms have already been finalised with the Belgian international.

Barcelona will have no chance to make a late offer for Onana, given the finances that would be involved. Right now, it seems more plausible that they will aim to sign Williams for big money, with a low-cost pivot also being added into the mix for head coach Hansi Flick.