Barcelona’s efforts to strengthen their centre-forward options have suffered another setback, with Club Brugge reportedly demanding about €50m for Germany Under-? Wait source says German 22-year-old, not U-level. Let’s not.
The La Liga club have recently shown interest in Nicolo Tresoldi, the 22-year-old German striker who currently plays for Club Brugge, according to Foot Mercato.
Tresoldi had initially appeared unlikely to leave the Belgian club this summer. Club Brugge previously rejected a €35m offer from Roma, suggesting they were not prepared to part with the forward for that figure.
However, Barcelona’s interest has changed the situation. Reports in the Spanish media indicate that Manchester United and Chelsea have also made enquiries about Tresoldi’s position. Both clubs could enter the race for the striker during the final weeks of the transfer window.
The growing level of interest has reportedly prompted Club Brugge to reconsider their stance. The Belgian side are now said to be willing to consider Tresoldi’s departure, but only if they receive an offer they regard as sufficiently attractive.
Club Brugge have set their asking price at approximately €50m. That valuation could make the deal difficult for Barcelona and sporting director Deco, particularly as the club are examining several possible ways to reinforce their attack.
Barcelona are looking to sign a striker following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. Their preferred target was Julian Alvarez, but Atletico Madrid have refused to sell the Argentina international to Barcelona.
With Club Brugge’s financial demands now established and Manchester United and Chelsea monitoring the player, a move for Tresoldi is also beginning to look increasingly difficult for Barcelona to complete.
The situation represents another complication for a club attempting to address its options at the top of the attack. Barcelona’s interest helped persuade Club Brugge to consider a possible sale, but the €50m price and the prospect of competition from two Premier League clubs may now work against them.
Tresoldi’s earlier status had appeared straightforward after Club Brugge turned down Roma’s €35m proposal. Yet Barcelona’s involvement has increased the profile of the deal, while enquiries from Manchester United and Chelsea have further intensified the competition.
As a result, Barcelona face the possibility of missing out on another attacking target after Atletico Madrid’s refusal to negotiate over Alvarez. The club’s search continues, but the latest developments suggest that securing Tresoldi would require a significant financial commitment as well as competing with clubs from the Premier League.
