Barcelona Transfer News: Latest on Luan, Top Rumours
Gremio forward Luan Guilherme de Jesus Vieira is reportedly Barcelona's primary Brazilian transfer target. He is now deemed the top choice after the Liga champions reportedly admitted defeat in the bid to sign Gabriel Jesus ahead of Premier League side Manchester City.
A report from Joaquim Piera of Spanish publication Sport has indicated Barca will now try to sign 23-year-old attacker Luan:
"The striker, part of Brazil's Olympic side, fits the profile Albert Soler, head of professional sports at FC Barcelona, required. He is young - he turned 23 in March - has quality and a big potential. His price, as SPORT revealed on Saturday, would cost around 20 million euros, a reasonable figure for Barcelona.
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Piera also revealed how Barca manager Luis Enrique wants another centre-forward who can provide cover for prolific Uruguayan Luis Suarez. Luan, who operates as a No. 9 for Gremio, fits the bill.
The report even stated how Luan's participation in the upcoming Olympics in Rio de Janeiro gives the Liga giants more time to finalise a deal.
Luan was just one name on a three-striker shortlist featuring some of South America's best attacking talent. Piera and Lluis Miguelsanz wrote an article for Sport naming Sao Paulo's Jonathan Calleri and Palmeiras ace Jesus as the other forwards interesting Barca's technical secretary Robert Fernandez.
However, City are said to have already agreed a deal for the latter worth €32 million (£27 million), according to Globo Esporte (h/t Football Espana), and Sport Witness cited Sport noting Barca's reluctance to "pay the same fee."
All this makes it seem as if Barca are moving on to other targets, hence the links to Luan.
It's clear Enrique's squad needs more forward talent, despite the presence of Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar. There is little depth behind this marquee trio, and the latter will also compete for Brazil at the Olympics.
So Barca have spent most of the summer linked with strikers. In fact, two of their mooted targets have recently joined new clubs.
Former Sevilla man Kevin Gameiro signed for Barca's Liga rivals Atletico Madrid, per BBC Sport. The Frenchman was was said to be in "advanced talks" to move to the Camp Nou in late July, according to Sport (h/t James Leyfield of the Sun).
Gameiro's move to Atleti even ended Barca's hopes of signing another target when Luciano Vietto joined Sevilla on loan, per Goal's Matthew Judge. The Argentinian forward turned down Barca to move to Seville, according to Sky Sports News HQ.
With only 20-year-old Munir El Haddadi as a viable reserve up front, Barcelona must follow through on their attempts to add another gifted attacker to their ranks before the start of the new campaign.
The Messi, Neymar and Suarez trio almost guarantees major trophies, but an overreliance on all three will hamper Barca's ability to win on all fronts.
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