FC Barcelona continues planning for the next season and has already initiated contacts with different clubs to strengthen the squad. Deco, the blaugrana sporting director, has set his sights on Liverpool, a team also looking to improve its squad following Arne Slot's arrival on the Anfield bench.
In this scenario, the door has opened to a possible player exchange that could surprise the Barça fans. Liverpool is very interested in Frenkie de Jong, while Barça is seeking a quality reinforcement for its attack.
The negotiation won't be easy, but both clubs have urgent needs that could facilitate the agreement.
Liverpool Wants Frenkie de Jong
With Arne Slot's arrival as the new coach, Liverpool is in full reconstruction. One of the main objectives of the Dutch coach is to strengthen the midfield, and Frenkie de Jong is the most favored name at Anfield.
The former Ajax player fits perfectly into Liverpool's play style. His organizational ability, vision of the game, and clean exit from the back make him an ideal midfielder for the English team's system.
For several seasons, De Jong has been a key piece at Barça, but his future is uncertain. Despite being a footballer of great quality, his high salary and the economic situation have made his continuity not assured.
Therefore, Deco doesn't rule out the possibility of selling him if an interesting offer arrives. In this case, Liverpool would be willing to offer one of its stars in exchange.
Barça Wants an Exchange
Barça, aware of Liverpool's interest in De Jong, wants to take advantage of the situation to strengthen its attack with a player who has always been liked at Camp Nou: Luis Díaz.
The winger has established himself as one of the most unbalancing players in the Premier League, standing out for his speed, dribbling, and ability to create danger in one-on-one situations.
Although he has been an important player at Liverpool, he is not untouchable. The English team has several offensive options and could consider including him in an exchange if they manage to sign a top-level midfielder like De Jong.
For Barça, Luis Díaz would be an ideal reinforcement for the left wing, a position that needs more depth and competition. His arrival would allow Flick to have more options in attack, complementing players like Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.
The Difficulties of the Exchange
Despite the exchange being attractive for both parties, it won't be an easy operation.
- Liverpool values Luis Díaz highly and might not be willing to include him in a swap without obtaining additional financial compensation.
- Luis Díaz's salary is a key factor. For Barça, taking on his salary could pose a problem within its salary cap.
- Frenkie de Jong remains an important player for Flick. Therefore, the blaugrana club would only let him go if they receive a very beneficial offer.
Conversations between Deco and Liverpool remain open, and there could be developments in the coming weeks. Barça knows it needs quality reinforcements to remain competitive and that its economic situation forces it to seek creative formulas in the market.
If the exchange is finalized, Barça would acquire a top-level player who would contribute significantly to Flick's system. Meanwhile, Liverpool would strengthen its midfield with a world-class footballer.
The operation is still in the negotiation phase, but if both parties reach an agreement, we could be witnessing one of the most surprising moves of the market.