The Barça has seen like Chelsea has taken the forward in the signing of Jules Koundé and does not plan to remain of 'arms crossed'. Xavi Hernández wants to fichar a central that accompany to Ronald Araújo in the saga in front of the fault of leadership that will have Gerard Hammered and the likely exit of Óscar Mingueza and Samuel Umtiti in this window estival.
Although the club fichó to Andreas Christensen in this summer, the sportive direction wants to follow adding pieces to compete by all the titles during the 2022/23. With this on the table, a new information desvelada by 'Basque Wave' ensures that the Barcelona have contacted to the Athletic Bilbao to initiate the negotiations by Iñigo Martínez, with the intention to close an agreement the before possible.
It would be Mateu Alemany the one who would have communicated with Jon Uriarte, president of the 'lions', to know at first hand which are the conditions so that the Basques access to sell to his player. To his 31 years and with an agreement until 2023, would be an opportunity 'of gold' so that the one of Ondarroa firm a new bond until the final stage of his sportive career.
This is not the first time that the Barcelona interests in the defender, since they were near to hire him when they were under the orders of Ernesto Valverde. The own Xavi understands that it can be an important incorporation because of his left-handed profile and to his good exit of balloon, in addition to having a powerful aerial game that can take advantage of in the played to unemployed balloon.
How much could ask the Athletic?
Iñigo has a clause of rescission priced in 80 million euros, although his contractual situation could benefit to the culés in the transaction. His value of market according to the portal 'Transfermarkt' would be of 25 'kilos', an accessible sum for the directive after having closed the second 'crowbar' with 'Sixth Street'. For the moment, everything is to the expectation because of the difficulty of the operations with the Athletic, although all will depend on if the signing of Koundé by Chelsea does official in the next hours.