Barcelona shelve pursuit for Euro 2024-winning midfielder to focus on attacking reinforcements | OneFootball

Barcelona have set their heart on recruiting new names in attack this summer. Nico Williams and Dani Olmo have emerged as the club’s top targets and all resources are being focused towards the Spanish duo.

The development, unsurprisingly, does not leave much room to rope in a new defensive midfielder.

Mikel Merino was the latest on a long list of candidates scouted to fill the pivot position, but that too appears to have hit a standstill.

No progress

In a recent update, club sources have revealed Barça Universal that Mikel Merino is no longer Barcelona’s priority target.

The Catalans would be interested in his signing but are not moving forward with the operation as it stands.

Instead, Joan Laporta and Co. will turn to the defensive midfield position only after the future of their two top targets is resolved: Williams and Olmo.

Barcelona’s exit from the race now shifts the limelight onto Atletico Madrid and Arsenal who are looking to steal his signing this summer.

The Premier League side, needless to say, are frontrunners.

Looking for homegrown solutions

Barcelona’s financial situation does not provide the management with much to work with on the transfer market. La Masia, in such a situation, often turns out to be the savior.

As revealed earlier this week, Hansi Flick has been trying out different La Masia youngsters in the pivot positions in pre-season so far.

The upcoming tour in the USA could well provide an idea of the manager’s options.

Flick, moreover, has opted to keep Oriol Romeu in the mix for next season and the Spaniard could get another run to prove his worth in the team’s new system.