Barcelona’s struggles in the transfer market continue to spill over into the new season, with financial concerns still shaping decisions at the Catalan club.
The summer window has been active across Europe, with Premier League and Championship sides looking to strengthen before the September 1 deadline.
English teams have once again circled around Barcelona’s former prospects, hoping to benefit from the financial sacrifices the Spanish giants have been forced to make.
Meanwhile, La Liga’s ongoing debate about financial fair play rules has kept Barcelona in the headlines, with fans still waiting to see how many of their new arrivals can be officially registered before the deadline closes.
One player who left Camp Nou last year is now back in the spotlight after reports emerged that English side Birmingham City have made an approach.
According to the Daily Mail, the Blues are targeting Senegalese defender Mikayil Faye, who left Barcelona in the summer of 2024 when the club needed to free up space to register big-name arrivals such as Dani Olmo.
At just 19 years old, Mikayil Faye had been tipped as one of the more promising defensive talents within the Barca system, but the Catalan club’s financial crisis meant they could not hold on to him.
Faye moved to Ligue 1 side Rennes but has found life in France difficult, featuring just 11 times for the club since his arrival.
That lack of game time has now alerted Birmingham, who are keen to bring in reinforcements before the window shuts.
The Championship club have already been busy this summer, with several new arrivals boosting their squad.
They even turned down the chance to pursue high-profile striker Aleksandar Mitrović, choosing instead to focus on other targets.
Now, their pursuit of Faye signals a fresh attempt to lure players from Barcelona’s production line, with the club having previously signed Paik Seung-ho from the B team in Spain.
This also marks the second time Birmingham have looked towards Rennes during this window, after securing Kyōgo Furuhashi, who has already impressed fans with his quick adaptation to English football.
Faye, capable of playing both as a centre-back and at left-back, fits the mould of a strong, athletic defender who still has plenty of potential to fulfil.
His exit from Barcelona was a harsh reminder of how financial pressures continue to dictate the club’s squad decisions, and his next move could now see him develop his career in England rather than La Liga.
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