Barcelona aim to snatch Manchester City's gem

Barcelona have made English star Phil Foden one of their top targets in the summer transfer window, taking advantage of the stalled contract renewal negotiations with Manchester City. This move aims to fulfill coach Hansi Flick's requests to bolster the squad with new attacking options. According to reports, the Catalan club is closely monitoring Foden's situation, whose current contract with Manchester City runs until June 2027, and is considering submitting an offer below his market value, capitalizing on the uncertainty surrounding his future. Barcelona's management believes Foden might be ready for a new challenge after a disappointing season, despite making 50 appearances, scoring 10 goals and providing 7 assists – figures lower than his usual performances in recent years.
The England international's current market value is around €70 million, according to Transfermarkt. Journalist Akram Konur indicated that Barcelona plans to open negotiations with Manchester City based on a lower valuation. Despite Barcelona's interest, completing the deal won't be easy, especially since Manchester City rejected a massive €130 million offer from Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr last September, determined to keep one of their academy's most prominent graduates. Interest in Foden isn't limited to Barcelona; AC Milan has also entered the race, prioritizing his signing to bolster their squad, and Galatasaray has expressed official interest, capitalizing on the stalled contract renewal negotiations. This competition presents Manchester City with difficult choices in the coming period: either expedite the renewal process or carefully consider the offers before the player enters the final years of his contract.