Liverpool
Premier League • England
Barcelona chief dampens Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of pinching £42m wonderkid
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has calmed panic that Gavi could walk away from the club and says a new deal is “on the right track”.
The 17-year-old Barca superstar is out of contract in 2023 and would be able to leave with Barca having to settle for a compensation deal. Talks with the midfielder and his team-mate Ronald Araujo have been ongoing, with no agreement in place.
The uncertainty around Gavi’s future has led to reported interest from Liverpool.
Gavi is understood to be a target for the Anfield club with El Nacional reporting the Premier League club’s interest before Christmas.
And Spanish journalist Gerard Romero, via The Boot Room, claimed recently that Liverpool had made an offer to Gavi.
Gavi reportedly earns around £3,000-a-week and has a £42m release clause. But Liverpool have reportedly offered him a deal worth nearly £100,000-a-week.
Now Sport and Marca both suggest Gavi has rejected a third contract offer at the Camp Nou. Instead Xavi is hoping his “project” and “vision” will be enough to keep hold of the talented youngster.
But Laporta has played down that talk and says there is nothing to worry about.
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“Well, this is on the right track,” Laporta told Mundo Deportivo. “Yes, they are players that we want to continue, within these salary levels that we are establishing. We would like them to continue for many years.
“Everything is going perfectly normally with Araujo and Gavi.”
Barcelona still chasing LaLiga title
The mood in Catalonia is good despite being 12 points behind leaders Real Madrid with a game in hand.
Of course last weekend’s thumping 4-0 win over their deadly rivals has lifted spirits at the Xavi-led Camp Nou. And with 10 games to go, Laporta insists that Barca are still trying to win LaLiga.
“I say this because the team is improving. The season has ups and downs, it’s true. Madrid have to enter a low phase [of form], because they have kept thirteen or fourteen fixed players, and we have had more versatility,” added Laporta.
“We have had low moments especially at the beginning and now we are in a good moment and we face this last stretch with the hope of being able to compete for the Liga.
“We are at 12 points [behind], if we beat Rayo we will be at nine and we have to think that we have to win all the games. It is a very big challenge but we like challenges and the whole club has this mentality.”