Xavi and Deco do not agree on Barcelona’s €60 million target to replace Busquets

It is no secret that Barcelona are scouring the market desperately for a new pivot midfielder to replace departing captain Sergio Busquets.

And, at this point, it is also pretty much well-established that manager Xavi Hernandez is keen on Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi as his preferred target to take over from Busquets as the Catalans’ new defensive midfielder.

However, as per a report from SPORT, not all members of the Barcelona sporting staff see things in the same light as Xavi when it comes to Zubimendi.

Indeed, the sports management of the club, including soon-to-be director Deco, are understood to have doubts about making a move for the Real Sociedad midfielder owing to his age, inexperience, and steep price tag which could stop the Catalans from signing other targets.

After all, Zubimendi comes with a hefty €60 million release clause with La Real uninterested in reducing that price tag.

While the sports management team has told Xavi that they will make a push for the Spaniard’s signing one last time, Deco & co. do not plan on going all out for his signing.

In fact, the soon-to-be sporting director is already searching the market for a player with a similar profile and a lower price tag.

There have been links to the likes of Joao Palhinha, Sofyan Amrabat, and Guido Rodriguez, who is said to be gaining weight as an option to replace Busquets.

Only time will tell who Barcelona end up signing to fill the void that will be left by their captain’s departure. But as things stand there does not seem to be a consensus over the capture of Zubimendi.