Barcelona could pull off improbable signing by including youngsters in deal | OneFootball

Barcelona have been linked to Villarreal playmaker Alex Baena on a number of occasions, and given the 22-year-old’s outstanding form this season, it’s no surprise that those links have intensified. Baena leads La Liga for assists this season, but his €60m release clause could be an obstacle for the Blaugrana.

As per Sport, the price for Baena could come down to some €40-45m for Baena, an amount that would still be difficult for the Blaugrana to put on the table, given he is not a priority for them. However Villarreal are interested in a number of Barcelona’s young players, and the inclusion of those players would be something the Yellow Submarine are open to as a further way of reducing the fee.

The interest from Aston Villa in the Premier League, and doubtless there are more, may be the biggest obstacle for Barcelona. If Baena is not a priority, then it could take some time to move onto the option of Baena, and it is unclear if they will have the money to do so. During the period where that becomes clear, it would be no surprise if sides that are willing to do spend more on Baena anyway come in for him.