Barça is clear that for the upcoming transfer market, one of the priority objectives is to incorporate a standout winger to complement Raphinha and Lamine Yamal. With the season underway, the need for a player who can provide more offensive options and imbalance in the attack has become evident.
The profile for this position would be a fast winger with dribbling skills and goals, characteristics that are not yet sufficiently covered in the team with Ansu and Ferran. In this context, the favorite to fill this position was Nico Williams, who stood out in the past season and in the European Championship.
Barça considers that Nico Williams has dropped in performance
However, according to information published by "El Nacional.cat," the situation has changed. Nico Williams is no longer the favorite for Barcelona, mainly due to his drop in performance compared to the previous season. Although he remains a very interesting player, his performance with Athletic Club hasn't been as outstanding as in previous years, which has raised some doubts.
Despite this, the player remains on the culés' agenda because his release clause, which amounts to 60 million (approximately 66 million USD), is considered an affordable figure. However, he has lost his status as the preferred choice.
Laporta's favorite
With Nico Williams's profile in the background, Barça has begun to focus its attention on another player who is excelling in Serie A, Rafael Leão. The Portuguese forward is having an impressive season with Milan, being one of the offensive pillars of the team. His speed, dribbling ability, and goal-scoring capacity make him a highly sought-after piece in the market.
Moreover, his profile perfectly fits Barça's needs, which is looking for a decisive and unbalancing winger. In this sense, Rafa Leão has become the main target to strengthen the blaugrana attack, and Joan Laporta is particularly interested in his acquisition due to the impact it would have.
Jorge Mendes will be key
The signing of Rafael Leão will not be easy, as his market value has increased considerably due to his great performance. However, one of the keys for Barcelona to secure the Portuguese forward this summer is the relationship with his agent, Jorge Mendes.
The representative has a close relationship with Laporta, which could facilitate negotiations and allow Barça to reduce the cost of the operation. Although Leão's price would exceed 100 million (approximately 110 million USD), Mendes's experience and ability to manage such transfers could be crucial for Barça to succeed. Thus, the possibility of a favorable agreement for all parties remains a viable option in the transfer market.