Barcelona Transfer News: Sergio Busquets, Javier Mascherano, Nolito, Top Rumours

Former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola will reportedly seek to lure Sergio Busquets away from the club next summer, with the Bayern Munich boss expected to join Manchester City.

It was confirmed last weekend that Guardiola will be leaving the German champions at the end of the season, with the Etihad Stadium looking like his most likely destination, per Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail. According to Don Balon (h/t Mark Brus of Metro), Busquets is the man he’ll try to add to his new squad.

The holding midfielder cemented his spot in the Barcelona side under Guardiola and has been an immovable figure at its core for many successes since. Here’s a look at why he’s rated as one of the world’s standout midfield players:

Guardiola does seek to set a unique style of football on his teams, and he’ll need players who can thrive in this kind of set-up when he does take on his next job.

Busquets’ ability to spot danger, impose himself in midfield and pick passes would make him the perfect candidate to speed the process along.

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As Spanish football expert Sergi Dominguez hints here, the midfielder’s influence on matches actually is a little underrated:

The prospect of him lining up in City colours is a hugely fanciful one, though. Not only has Guardiola not made an official decision on his next club yet, the Etihad Stadium outfit already have a manager in Manuel Pellegrini. 

In addition—and most importantly of all—Barcelona will not want to part ways with a unique footballer who is absolutely critical to the way they operate.

River Plate Interest in Javier Mascherano Revealed

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River Plate president Rodrigo D’Onofrio has claimed he did his best to try and convince Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano to return to the Argentinian giants.

River and Barca met in the final of the Club World Cup at the weekend, with the latter coming out on top in a 3-0 win. Afterwards D’Onofrio spoke candidly about his attempts to lure the Albiceleste star back to the Monumental.

“I spoke with Mascherano and, of course, I tried to seduce him into returning,” he told FOX Sports (h/t Football Espana). “A winning cycle has come to an end, and I feel we need to strengthen the team. You can’t retain players who have won everything.”

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It wouldn’t be a surprise if there did come a day when Mascherano wanted to return to his old stomping ground, but he remains a central part of this Barcelona team. He and Gerard Pique formed an understatedly superb centre-back partnership which was the foundation for the club’s treble triumph last season.

At 31, Mascherano should be feeling at his absolute peak as a central defender. Barcelona, who will challenge on all fronts again this season, are one of the best clubs in world football to give those precious years to.

Arsenal Put Off By Nolito Asking Price

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According to Sky Sports’ Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, Arsenal are not willing to pay the €18 million (£12.6 million) that it’d take to sign Celta Vigo winger Nolito in the midseason window.

“I know for a fact that Arsenal don't want him,” said Balague of the rumoured Barcelona target, per Jamie Anderson of the Daily Star. “They feel, for €18 million, it's not what they're looking for. So instead of me answering, that's Arsenal answering for you.”

As noted by Anderson, the Blaugrana have also been linked to a January move for their former player, who has been hugely impressive at Celta this term. He’s been one of the most creative operators in European football, as Squawka Football illustrate here:

Barcelona do need to add some depth to their forward positions. In Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, they have three of the finest attacking players in the world, but if one of those were to fall foul of injury or suspension, they don’t have quality back-up elsewhere in the squad.

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Nolito would definitely provide that kind of insurance, but a January deal looks unlikely. Not only is the winger suffering with a hamstring injury at the moment, but Barcelona have hardly any money at all to spend in the window, per Lluis Miguelsanz of Sport. 

For the player, staying at Celta, getting regular football and trying to push the team into a shock Champions League place will surely be the main objective at this juncture.