Manchester City are lining up an audacious move for Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets. Some sources in the Spanish press are claiming that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is planning to raid his former club Barcelona in pursuit of the midfielder’s signature. It is being reported that the 29-year-old Spanish international has a €200m release clause in his Barcelona contract but Guardiola believes that he can land him for €56m and persuade the Catalan club to part ways with their prized asset. Busquets is under contract with the Catalans until the summer of 2021 so Barca boss Ernesto Valverde will be in no pressure to sell. However, the imminent arrival of Phillipe Coutinho can pave the way for Busquets’ departure from La Liga as City looks to build on their terrific start to this campaign.
A recent report in the English press has also suggested that Pep Guardiola would use Busquets as a direct replacement for Yaya Toure who is in the twilight of his career. It is believed that a potential £50m deal may happen if Barcelona are willing to do business as the midfielder is set to be reunited with his former boss at City. During his reign at Barcelona, Guardiola handed the Spanish midfielder his debut for the Catalan club and has gone on to win two Champions League trophies and four La Liga titles together at the Nou Camp.
Busquets has made 23 appearances for the Catalans this season and has scored one and assisted two goals so far. His reputation is built around his ability to read the game from a holding midfield role while protecting the backline. The Spanish midfielder can pass the ball well and would be an ideal asset for Guardiola’s Manchester City side going into the future if the Citizens are able to secure his services. He can be a direct replacement for Yaya Toure but it will be hard for him to break into the City first-team with Kevin De Bruyne, İlkay Gündoğan and Fernandinho is such great form for the Citizens right now.
The 29-year-old former World Cup winner can boast an impressive list of honours to his name having won three Champions League trophies and six La Liga titles among many other domestic triumphs during his career with Barcelona. It is highly likely that he won’t resist at a chance of bagging a potential Premier League title under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
It remains to be seen whether a move can potentially take place when the transfer window opens in January or over the course of the summer of 2018.
