Manchester City line-up move for €60m Barcelona star as Wirtz alternative – Report | OneFootball

By their own sky-high standards, Manchester City have fallen short this season, trophyless and under pressure to bounce back. As Pep Guardiola looks to retool his squad, marquee signings could be on the horizon.

FC Barcelona on the other hand have enjoyed one of their best seasons in recent history and will be keen to keep the core of the squad intact and try to build on the progress seen this season. This would mean making as few sales as possible.

Both clubs’ resolve could be tested this summer as Man City seem to be eyeing one of Barcelona’s key players as their Kevin de Bruyne alternative. As per Sacha Tavolieri on Sky Sports France, the English club have earmarked Dani Olmo as their plan B incase they fail to land Florian Wirtz.

Dani Olmo is a line-breaking maestro. (Source: DataMB)

BBC Sport reported earlier today that Man City had dropped out of the race for the Bayer Leverkusen midfield star as they considered the financial package of the deal not viable. This could in turn put the target on Barcelona’s back.

Tavolieri has mentioned that Pep Guardiola fancies signing the player who joined Barcelona just last summer and the transfer fee could be somewhere close to his market value of €60m. It comes as no surprise to see the Spanish tactician want Olmo as not many players in the world are better at playing inbetween the lines than the 27-year-old.

Olmo has struggled with fitness issues this season, but whenever he has been fit, he has managed to score important goals that have given Barcelona important points. In 38 games across all competitions, he has scored 11 goals and provided 7 assists.

Dani Olmo and Florian Wirtz are quite similar in terms of profile. (Source: DataMB)

Hansi Flick has shown immense faith in the Spaniard, making him a guaranteed starter for the big games whenever he has been fit. Olmo has a certain X-factor to his game that is hard to buy in the market and there is a reason he is touted to be a huge talent.

Barcelona would undoubtedly prefer to hold on to Dani Olmo, especially given his impact in key matches and Hansi Flick’s clear trust in him. However, with Fermin Lopez continuing his rapid rise in a similar role, the club may face a difficult decision, particularly if Manchester City come knocking with a significant offer. For now, Barcelona’s best course may be to stay firm unless a substantial profit is on the table. As the transfer window draws near, this storyline is one to watch closely.