Gavi's intention of joining Liverpool or Man City made clear

Stuart Telford

• 4 Apr 2023 22:18 BST
• 3 min read

Barcelona Golden Boy Gavi is available on a free transfer this summer after La Liga blocked the registration of his new contract signed in September.

Barca offered Gavi a new four-year contract late last year which included a €1 billion release clause and the promise of inheriting the No.6 jersey once worn by Xavi, now the head coach at Camp Nou.

But with La Liga telling the club that they need to reduce their debt by €200 million if they want to compete next season, Barca have been unable to register Gavi's new deal.

READ: Gavi stripped of Barca shirt number with Man Utd, Liverpool on high alert

Accordingly, he is technically available on a free transfer in June, with Liverpool, Manchester City and others circling.

"Barcelona aren't happy with the rulings that has seen Gavi revert to his junior contract and his first-team deal suspended," Graeme Bailey told TEAMtalk.

Gavi's intention

"I'm told that Barcelona have kept Gavi informed at every point and the player, whilst not loving the situation, has little intention of taking advantage of any option that would allow him to leave for nothing.

READ: The two Barcelona stars who could become the best in the world

"Gavi had the chance to move last summer before signing this deal, and he didn't. Speaking to people around his previous suitors like Liverpool and Man City, they also don't believe he wants to move."

Gavi, alongside Pedri, Robert Lewandowski and Ousmane Dembele, is considered one of the few untouchable players at Barcelona as they brace themselves for a mass exodus this summer.

As well as needing to raise €200m simply to balance the books, president Javier Tebas is desperately scrambling to activate yet more 'financial levers' in an attempt to fund Lionel Messi's return, with the club legend out of contract with PSG.

Gavi is rated at €102.9m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, on the assumption that his new contract will be ratified in due course.