Barcelona are ready to move on from the Sergio Busquets era and have earmarked their No.1 transfer target to replace the Spain international midfielder.
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At 34, Busquets has been a one-club man, having come through the academy at La Masia to turn out for the first team for 14 years. After close to 700 appearances for Barca, though, time is starting to catch up with the 34-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of the season.
The Spain international is expected to leave the club in the summer, with a move to MLS looking likely, at which point Barcelona will turn to a new enforcer in their midfield.
The 23-year-old has played with La Real since he was 12 and has come through their levels to establish himself as a key first-team player and also a Spain international. FootballTransfers values the player at €22 million but Barca are liable to have to pay the release clause of the player, which is set at €60m.
Sociedad are in a strong bargaining position with regards Zubimendi as they have him under contract until 2027.
Further complicating matters for Barcelona, the selling club also know that there is a need for the Catalans to sign two players in this position. Not only will they lose Busquets next summer, but this is an area in which Xavi is concerned that there is not sufficient depth for the first team. Although there are several players who can plug the gap in the Barcelona squad, there is a not a specialist for that position.
This could be a sticking point in the deal. Barcelona have ongoing financial problems, and while Busquets’ exit will represent a significant saving in the wage budget, it is believed that squeezing Zubimendi into the structure will be complicated.
What is clear, however, is that no deal will be possible in January for that reason.
