Barcelona Transfer News: Robin van Persie Must Force Move, Latest Rumours

Fenerbahce forward Robin van Persie will have to force a move to Spanish giants Barcelona, but the Blaugrana are reportedly serious in their chase of the veteran forward, according to Dutch sources. Meanwhile, Ajax forward Anwar El Ghazi is also being monitored by the Catalans.

According to Sjoerd Mossou from Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad, speaking to Studio Sport (h/t Football Espana), the Catalans see Van Persie as a signing similar to the one of Henrik Larsson in the 205-06 season.

Per Football Espana, Mossou said: “It would be a signing of prestige, but the only way [Barca can sign him] is if the player forces through his departure. That implies a risk, but it’s not because the offer from Barcelona will be firm [in January].

A move to Catalonia for Van Persie sounds like a thing of fantasy given his recent poor form and fall from grace, but the Dutch media remain adamant Barcelona's interest is very real, and for a minimal investment, they believe he could still offer quite a bit.

The Dutch international moved to Turkey from Manchester United during the summer after a poor 2014-15 campaign and has failed to lock down an automatic starting spot in Fenerbahce's starting XI since then.

It's hard to believe one of the biggest stars of the 2014 World Cup can't even cut it at Fenerbahce little over one year later, but that appears to be what is happening. Van Persie has since been omitted from the Netherlands squad to play Wales in an upcoming friendly.

It seems almost absurd that a player struggling so badly would pique the interest of Barcelona, the most dominant team in football last season. However, a move for Van Persie could actually turn out to be a supreme piece of business by the club.

The value of the deal is key. Barcelona don't need to add a star, as Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar are the automatic starters when healthy, and there's some impressive young talent already in the squad in the form of Sandro Ramirez and Munir El Haddadi.

Just one year ago, Van Persie was seen as a world-class commodity, and he's still just 32 years old. His value is at an all-time low, and he could be available for a very modest fee, but given his age, there's every chance he still has plenty of high-level football left in his legs, providing he lands in the right situation.

Van Persie has always been a mobile, technical striker with solid passing ability, so should he rediscover his form of old, he would actually be a good fit for Barcelona's philosophy. And even if he doesn't find his footing in Catalonia, the minimal investment would make it a risk worth taking.

As a depth option, Barcelona could do worse than take a chance on Van Persie and see whether he can still contribute. It worked with Larsson, who played a minimal role during his time with the club but justified his inclusion in the squad with two assists in the Champions League final against Arsenal.

Another option would be Ajax's El Ghazi, the 20-year-old star winger who has quickly established himself as one of the Netherlands' top attacking talents. El Ghazi would be a far more expensive option, however, and is unlikely to leave Ajax until the summer.

The 20-year-old is one of the youngsters nominated for this year's Golden Boy award, per Dutch Football, and recently made his full debut for the Netherlands.

He has already scored eight goals in 10 Eredivisie starts this season, per WhoScored.com, despite seeing the bulk of his playing time as a winger. Standing well over 6 feet tall, via Transfermarkt.nl, he could move to a central role in the future, although his incredible pace and dribbling skills make him a more natural fit out wide.

El Ghazi is a fantastic prospect who looks like he will have a big future, but Barcelona have plenty of similar players already in the squad. He would surely be a good addition, but the Blaugrana don't need another winger and could back out of the race if he proves too expensive.