In a surprising transfer revelation, FC Barcelona zeroed in on Eintracht Frankfurt sensation before pivoting to new priorities.
FC Barcelona, who are known for taking a methodical approach to squad building, recently considered a high-profile transfer in order to reinforce their forward line for the upcoming season.
With manager Hansi Flick driving the tactical reconfiguration of the club, the Catalan giants first zeroed in on a forward who is already building a reputation playing on European football fields.
This move was part of a broader plan to inject new attacking players into the squad, particularly after achieving a domestic treble when they were agonisingly close to competing in the Champions League semi-finals.
With FC Barcelona still having lingering concerns over the age of the striker options in the squad, the engagement of the club’s sporting director, Deco, can be seen as an early attempt to explore these issues.
The target was Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, an electric 22-year-old French striker who scored 15 goals, plus another eight assists in the Bundesliga last season, as reported by Diario Sport.
A successful partnership in attack with Omar Marmoush, Hugo Ekitike was one of a number of players playing in the Bundesliga who are of interest to Premier League clubs, and scouting activity happened with clubs such as Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United taking particular interest in players occupying similar striker spaces.
Barcelona had made first contact with Juventus to find out if a deal could be agreed, before their attention turned elsewhere after speaking internally.
The emergence of Nico Williams as an option made sense for the club.
They decided they needed a natural winger to take advantage of their flanks, and securing Williams is a matter of when, not if, as reports suggest a four-year deal, that would reportedly allow him to leave AC to join the Blaugrana on a free.
The move for Williams illustrates Barcelona’s adaptability in the market, prioritising tactical needs over financial ones while we wait for La Liga’s salary cap to be imposed.
The strategic decision to prioritise a winger rather than a central striker highlights Flick’s thoughts and feelings regarding a versatile front line.
As Barcelona prepares for the first fixture back at the renovated Camp Nou, the potential of Williams joining could be a new exciting chapter for the club’s future.
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