Barcelona Transfer News: Nolito Obstacle Expected, Latest on Paul Pogba Rumours

Barcelona may have to pay a little more than they initially anticipated if they want to land Nolito from Celta Vigo in the January window.

That’s because the winger is set to pen a new contract with his current club that’ll include an inflated release clause. Speaking with Faro de Vigo (h/t SPORT), Celta president Carlos Mourino insisted there has been no official contact from Barcelona and gave an insight into the player’s future:

"

I said that we had not received an offer and I stand by it despite the doubts of many journalists who have said 'I don't believe what Mourino said in the press conference.'

I can assure you that at no time have I the slightest contact with Barcelona and, to our knowledge, from the mouth of Nolito, he did not either.

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MIGUEL RIOPA/Getty Images

As noted in the piece, Mourino also claimed that Nolito’s release clause would be raised to €25 million when the contract is signed. According to Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC, the previous trigger amount was €18 million. 

Barcelona's sporting director Robert Fernandez has confirmed that the club are definitely interested in Nolito too, per Esport3 (h/t football-espana.net): "It's true that we're evaluating a number of players. [Nolito] is a player that both the Coach and I know very well, but it's not an easy situation. He's a market opportunity, so we'll see if we can [sign him] or not."

Here’s a look at why the 28-year-old has been tipped to replace Pedro at Barcelona:

Last season Nolito emerged as one of the most exciting wingers in Spain. Typically stationed on the left, he was an incisive presence for Celta, driving forward with the ball, committing defenders and delighting the crowd. But crucially, there was an end product, finishing the La Liga season with 13 goals and 13 assists, per WhoScored.com.

As we can see here courtesy of WhoScored, he’s started this season in superb form too:

Still, for a player who turns 29 in October, a move to Barcelona would be a little misguided. Granted, the prospect of joining up with the Blaugrana would be a tantalising one, but Nolito would be fighting to deputise for Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez alongside Arda Turan. Instead, he should be playing regularly.

The reason he’s become such a classy player is due to the amount of opportunities he’s been getting at Celta. Moving to a team where he’d be sat on the bench every week would only reverse the positive recent strides Nolito has made.

Paul Pogba Discusses Future

FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/Getty Images

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has hinted he could leave the club next summer, with Barcelona heavily linked to a possible move for the player.

Bianconeri managing director Giuseppe Marotta told Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t ESPN FC) that the club had rejected an €80 million offer for Pogba from the La Liga champions earlier this summer and when he was quizzed on his future by Telefoot (h/t ESPN FC), the midfielder gave little away:

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Today I am at Juventus—but I do not know for how long. Why did I stay? Why not? It was not a certainty that I would leave.

We will do this year, and then we will see how things go. I am at Juventus, I am only thinking about Juventus.

"

FRANCK FIFE/Getty Images

The prospect of Pogba lining up at the heart of this Barca team is an ominous one. The Frenchman would be a perfect fit for Luis Enrique’s side, capable of surging forward with the ball in midfield, unpicking defences with accurate passing and hammering the ball at goal from distance.

As we can see here courtesy of OptaPaolo, for a player of his imposing build, Pogba is tremendously elegant too:

This season will be a crucial one for Pogba. The fact he’s been handed the No. 10 jersey by Juve suggests manager Massimiliano Allegri wants to see more from him. After the departures of Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal, there will definitely be an increased onus on the young midfielder to grab games by the scruff of the neck.

Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

Barcelona’s interest seems genuine, though, and the prospect of playing at the Camp Nou with the attacking riches of Messi, Neymar and Suarez ahead would surely appeal to the player. But should Juventus decide to cash in soon, there will be no shortage of suitors for the young Frenchman, who has the talent to become one of the world’s very best.