Barcelona Transfer News: Paul Pogba Agent Contacted, Latest Xavi Rumours

Barcelona have "contacted" Paul Pogba's agent, according to Jose Felix Diaz of Marca, potentially initiating a world-record move despite the side's transfer ban.

Diaz suggests that FCB president Josep Maria Bartomeu has "made Pogba aware of his club's desire to sign him" but has asked the player to remain at Juventus until the ban finishes.

Barca are unable to sign anyone until January 2016 after they were ruled to have illegally signed a number of young players, per BBC Sport. However, this could fall in their favour with Pogba's future in mind. Juventus are unlikely to want to see the 21-year-old midfielder leave just yet—much of Massimiliano Allegri's side is built around his output—so Barca may be able to use the situation to their advantage.

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For Bartomeu, "the idea is to agree on a deal before the current season is over and use the Frenchman's signing as an electoral weapon, just as Joan Laporta did in his day with Ronaldinho," notes Diaz.

Barca have spent big across the last two summers, securing the signature of players such as Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic and Neymar. Mino Raiola, Pogba's agent, told Telefoot (h/t Kieran Gill of the MailOnline) that believes his "Mona Lisa" client will only leave for a "record price."

Gareth Bale is responsible for the current world-record fee of £85.3 million, and B/R UK's Ryan Bailey and Jonathan Johnson recently considered whether Pogba will become football's first £100 million man:

Pogba could be a more destructive replacement for Xavi Hernandez, who continues to grab the attention of New York City FC. Claudio Reyna, director of football at the MLS club, recently admitted that Xavi is the perfect fit for the newly formed team, per Catalan TV3 (h/t Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC):

"We are very interested in 'franchise' players like Xavi," said Reyna. "The door is not closed. We will see. For sure we will need to bring in a third 'franchise' player in the summer."

A deal would see Xavi join Manchester City midfielder Frank Lampard and former Barca striker David Villa in the Big Apple next season.

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Barca are moving into a transitional period, which has no doubt been held up by the transfer ban. The current squad is stacked with ageing players—Xavi and Andres Iniesta among them—meaning signings such as Pogba could be on the cards.

He is the kind of acquisition that would set the team up for their next era, potentially thrusting Barca back toward the summit of Spanish football.