The Catalan team is preparing for a decisive match in the round of 16 of the Champions League when it faces its Portuguese counterpart Benfica in Lisbon in the first leg tomorrow.
Barcelona leads the La Liga standings with 57 points after 26 rounds, three points ahead of its rival Real Madrid in third place and one point ahead of second-place Atletico.
According to information from the Spanish newspaper “El Nacional,” Spanish club Barcelona is still reviewing its options to strengthen its ranks for next season. Among the names that interest the board of directors and the technical staff is Joshua Kimmich. The German player, whose contract with Bayern Munich expires next summer, will become a free agent, making him a great opportunity for many major clubs in Europe, including Barcelona.
Kimmich, 30, has been a key player at Bayern Munich for nearly a decade, but his future in Munich is coming to an end. The player is looking for a new challenge, and Barcelona is one of the destinations that appeals to him. According to recent reports, Barcelona’s director of football, Deco, has already started communicating with the player’s entourage, reflecting the Catalan club’s interest in signing him. However, there is a major obstacle in the form of the player’s high salary.
Kimmich is demanding a salary of over €10 million net per year, which would make him the second-highest-paid player in the squad, behind Robert Lewandowski. The player currently earns the same amount, making him unwilling to reduce his salary in order to move to Camp Nou.
Barcelona is studying options that would allow the deal to be implemented within the salary limits imposed by La Liga. If the club succeeds in finding a solution, they could explore mechanisms such as deferred payments or the inclusion of bonuses based on performance and goals.
On the other hand, Hansi Flick, the current coach of Barcelona, is one of the biggest supporters of signing Kimmich. Flick worked with the player at Bayern Munich and sees him as a key element in his new project. For Flick, Kimmich will be a pivotal player in the squad, either as a right-back to replace Jules Kounde at center-back, or as a central midfielder, an option that could either keep Frenkie de Jong out of the starting line-up or open up a new role for him. Flick considers Kimmich a versatile player, capable of leading the play and with enough experience to add depth to the dressing room. In addition, his winning mentality and tactical commitment fit in with Flick’s playing philosophy.