Barcelona have stepped up their search for a Sergio Busquets replacement with the objective of signing a new midfielder in January, sources have confirmed to ESPN.
Barca, as previously revealed by ESPN, sounded out deals for Real Sociedad‘s Martin Zubimendi and Wolverhampton Wanderers‘ Ruben Neves in the summer as possible options in case Frenkie de Jong moved to the Premier League.
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But De Jong made it clear he wanted to stay at Barcelona despite pressure from the club to accept a transfer away or agree to reduce his salary.
Just a few months later, however, Barca find themselves back in the market for a deep-lying midfielder as they begin to prepare for life without club captain Busquets.
Busquets, 34, is out of contract at the end of the season and received criticism for mistakes in their recent setbacks against Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
Zubimendi and Neves remain on Barca’s radar, sources have confirmed. The former recently signed a new contract with Real Sociedad, although his release clause remained fixed at around €60 million.
Neves, meanwhile, has a contract with Wolves until 2024 but his agent Jorge Mendes is in regular contact with Barca and has previously offered them the chance to sign the Portugal midfielder.
