Barcelona Transfer News: Sandro Update, Latest John Stones Rumours

Sandro Ramirez won't be given a new contract by Barcelona, freeing the young striker up to leave on a free transfer in the summer. It's news that could delight Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, who have been linked with the 20-year-old for some time.

Sandro might have moved on from the Camp Nou last summer, but Barca blocked the exit amid a FIFA-imposed transfer ban. Now, though, the club wants to reward its academy graduate for staying on, according to technical director Robert Fernandez, per a Reuters report (h/t Sky Sports):

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Last summer Sandro had an offer to leave. We evaluated at that time the situation we had as we could not sign players [due to a FIFA ban] and he made an effort to stay with us. We are very thankful for that.

But there was a date, May 1, that we could have extended his contract another year, but after the way he has behaved, we believed it was better to open the door for him to explore other opportunities.

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It's a development that could encourage further interest from White Hart Lane. MailOnline's Simon Jones credited Spurs with showing interest both last summer and in the January transfer window earlier this year.

Jones also cited Everton, Swansea City and Crystal Palace as previously keen suitors.

Having been schooled at Barca's famed La Masia academy, Sandro is typically astute technically. He's described by ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan as a "strong and mobile centre-forward."

Despite his skills, though, there's no obvious place for Sandro with the Blaugrana. Not when Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar lead the attack, while precocious talent Munir El Haddadi waits in the wings.

Yet, as a bright and skilled attacker with plenty of room to grow, Sandro represents a steal for the club who lands him on a freebie this summer.

Barca Facing Battle with Jose Mourinho for John Stones

Needing younger options at the back, Barcelona remain keen on Everton's John Stones, despite his dire season for the Toffees. But Barca are likely to face competition from incoming new Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, according to Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Mourinho is expected to take over at Old Trafford within days, per Sky Sports' Andy Burton. Law believes the former Chelsea boss will then use some of the proposed "£200 million" transfer budget he's set to be "handed" by the Reds to target Stones.

But he also noted how both Manchester City and Barcelona want Stones, with the latter retaining a strong interest:

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Barcelona have scouted Stones for some time and have not been put off by some of the criticism he has faced in England this season. Moving to Spain at such an early stage of his career would be a huge decision, but may well be attractive.

Stones would not come under the same sort of pressure to clear his lines and revert to long balls out of defence in La Liga, and could benefit from playing in a team that wins virtually every week.

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The comments about how the football played in Spain's top flight would better suit Stones' game are particularly interesting.

Jon Super/Associated Press

A defender who always prefers a forward pass over a no-nonsense boot to safety, Stones has gotten himself and Everton in trouble several times this season with some reckless touches in front of his own goal.

Yet the ex-Barnsley man has the makings of a dominant centre-back, provided he can cut out the mistakes. Big and commanding in the air, Stones combines imposing physicality with exceptional technical quality, but he has to learn to pick his moments to play out better.

Joining Barca, a club with an ethos tailored to taking care of the ball, would surely improve Stones' forward-thinking instincts. He also wouldn't be pressed in possession as often as he is in England's top flight, where the pace is frenetic and forwards never let defenders rest for a second.

Landing 21-year-old Stones would help refresh a defence in need of new blood. Javier Mascherano is 31, Gerard Pique is 29, while Jeremy Mathieu is 32. Meanwhile, 30-year-old former Arsenal man Thomas Vermaelen still has trouble staying fit.

Stones would re-energise that group, while also offsetting the loss of a youthful talent such as Sandro.