Spanish media reported this week that Roberto De Zerbi wanted to keep Ansu Fati on loan at Brighton for another season. According to new sources from Barcelona, the Italian will almost certainly get what he wants next season.
According to Diario SPORT reporter David Bernabeu Reverter, Barcelona has compiled a list of players it wants to sell this summer. This list includes the name Ansu Fati.
“They tell me that the sale [of Fati] has been decided,” Bernabeu Reverter said on Monday. According to Bernabeu Reverter, Barcelona plans to trade Clément Lenglet, Eric García, Raphinha, and either Andreas Christensen or Jules Koundé this summer.
According to Bernabeu Reverter, “Barcelona want to raise €200 million in sales this summer.” Barcelona will use these cash to avoid violating La Liga’s FFP criteria while also signing Everton’s Amadou Onana and Bryan Zaragoza on loan from Bayern Munich.
Barcelona’s firesale did not fully eliminate Brighton’s prospects of keeping Fati for another season. However, it makes things significantly more difficult.
Fati is reputedly earning £160k per week at Brighton, making him the club’s highest-paid player by a significant margin. The 21-year-old would have to accept a hefty pay reduction to remain in the Premier League with Brighton. His transfer fee may potentially be a concern for the Seagulls.
No one knows how much Barcelona wants for Fati. Whatever the price, it is likely to be more than Brighton is willing to pay right now. Fati has scored only four goals for Brighton this season. He has also missed significant time due to injury.
Roberto De Zerbi may believe that “Fati is a sleeping giant,” ready to be awakened up, but many Brighton supporters regard him as a failure.
De Zerbi would have had a difficult time convincing the club and fans to bring Fati back on loan. Convincing them to spend a lot of money on Fati during the transfer window will be impossible.
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