The arrival of Hansi Flick at Barcelona has reportedly led La Blaugrana to completely reconsider their plans for four key transfer targets.
According to El Chiringuito reporter Jose Alvarez, João Cancelo and João Félix are very close to staying at Barcelona for at least one more season. Cancelo and Félix, who spent the 2023/24 La Liga season on loan, looked set to return to their parent clubs this summer.
With Cancelo and Félix staying at the club, Barca have ruled out signing Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich and Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva.
Kimmich emerged as a transfer target for Barcelona this season, following disagreements with Thomas Tuchel. The former Bayern Munich boss preferred to play the German midfielder as a traditional No. 6 instead of his normal roaming midfielder role. With his old manager Flick coming in this summer, the club reignited their interest in Kimmich.
Silva has been a long-term Barcelona transfer target. The world class midfielder nearly left the Citizens last year to join Barcelona with teammate İlkay Gündoğan.
Given Barcelona’s financial problems, it shouldn’t be that surprising that the club is unable to sign some of their top targets. However, Cancelo and Félix staying should be a surprise to everyone.
Cancelo was a mainstay in Xavi’s Barcelona side this season. Many thought that he would be simply too expensive to sign from Man City this summer. Most reports claimed Barca reportedly wanted to focus on strengthening other positions instead of signing the left back.
In Félix’s case, him staying is a complete 180-degree turn from the club’s stance under Xavi. The former wonderkid started just one of Barcelona’s final ten matches after reportedly falling out with the Spanish manager.
Felix’s lack of worth ethic off the ball also makes him an unusual fit for Flick’s high-energy tactics.
If Barca do resign Felix this summer, how Flick uses him will be one of the biggest stories to watch at Barcelona next season.
