Barcelona has turned to Valencia in search of a long-term successor for first-choice left-back Jordi Alba, with Jose Gaya emerging as the favorite option.
The Spaniard has been linked with a move to Barcelona for some time, with the Blaugrana seeking a player who can challenge Alba for the starting left-back position and eventually take over from him in the future. Junior Firpo was a flop and was traded last summer, while Alejandro Balde is still too young for the limelight.
What about Gaya?
Gaya has been recognized as the ideal alternative in this regard. With nearly 200 La Liga outings under his belt, the 26-year-old is well-versed in the game, and his finest years are yet ahead of him. He has been in fantastic form recently for Los Che, scoring two goals and setting up three more in 13 league appearances this season.
Gaya’s deal with Mestalla is set to expire in eighteen months. Furthermore, talks over a new contract have not gone as planned, raising the prospect that Valencia will be obliged to sell him in the summer.
Fichajes and La Liga
According to Fichajes, the La Liga club has set a price of €50 million on the Spanish international. This contradicts prior rumors that Valencia would only be looking for a sum of roughly €30 million. If Barça tries to negotiate a lower cost than the €50 million figure, they would end the talks and simply point the Catalans to Gaya’s €100 million release clause.
The Spaniard, a proven player at this level, would be a great successor for Alba, who is nearing the end of his career. But it remains to be seen whether the Blaugrana are willing to spend €50 million for him in the summer when resources are tight and other positions require bolstering.
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