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Sam Marsden, Barcelona correspondentAugust 31, 2023, 12:04 a.m.
Ansu Fati is ready to leave Barcelona before the transfer window closes this week, with Brighton working on an ambitious loan deal for the Spain forward, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Tottenham have also had discussions with Barça, but they are also pursuing the signing of Nottingham ForestIt is Brennan Johnson.
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Fati, 20, is open to a season-long loan at premier leaguenow his link with Barca, but nothing is finalized yet before Friday’s transfer deadline.
It is a dramatic turnaround from Fati, who was previously reluctant to leave the Catalan club this summer despite pressure from elsewhere.
Barca, his agent, Jorge Mendes, and his father, Bori, all pushed him to spend a year elsewhere in order to play regular football.
Spurs and Chelsea had both been linked with Fati this week, but Brighton, coached by Roberto De Zerbi, emerged as the favorites to complete a deal on Wednesday.
Fati featured on the bench in Barca’s first three games of the season but has struggled to earn a regular place in Xavi Hernandez’s squad since recovering from several long-term injuries before the 2022-23 season.
After bursting onto the scene at the age of 16 in 2019, he missed almost two years of football between 2020 and 2022 due to various knee and hamstring issues.
He remained in good form last season, making 51 appearances, the majority off the bench, and scoring 10 goals, but he was frustrated by the lack of starts.
This led to his father, Bori, asking him to leave the club earlier this year and saying he was annoyed by the way Barca were treating Fati, who inherited the No.10 shirt from Lionel Messi.
Fati has a contract with Barça until 2027 and a release clause of one billion euros.
His possible departure, coupled with Clement LengletThe loan is transferred to Aston Villawhich sources tell ESPN will be closed on Thursday, could allow Barça to recruit two more clients of Mendes.
Barça is waiting to free up enough space within the spending limit imposed by La Liga to be able to recruit. Manchester City Back right Joao Cancelowhile sources confirm that they also remain in favor of Atlético Madrid Before João Felix.
Speaking earlier this summer, Felix said he would like to join Barca, who will be up for a striker before Friday if Fati leaves after also losing. Ousmane Dembélé has Paris Saint Germain earlier this month.
Source link: https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/38293681/barcelona-ansu-fati-close-brighton-loan-move-sources