'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Barcelona target Wendel is reportedly heading to Galatasaray, dealing the Blaugrana a huge blow as they look to reinforce their defensive midfield position ahead of the new season.
Interestingly, Wendel wasn't the club's first choice for the position, having pursued Euro 2024 winner Mikel Merino. However, with the club's poor finances playing spoilsport, they identified a more cost-effective option in Wendel.
That option now might not materialise, as SPORT (via Barca Universal) has reported that the Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder could be heading to Turkish giants Galatasaray instead.
The Turkish club are said to have offered the player a five-year deal with an annual salary of €4 million, with a transfer fee of €16 million being talked about. Since arriving from Sporting CP in 2020, Wendel has contributed 20 goals and 27 assists in 125 games across competitions.
Last season, the former Fluminense midfielder contributed four goals and nine assists in 27 games as Zenit won a fourth straight Russian top-flight title.
"At the moment, I'm really happy" - New Barcelona boss Hansi Flick on team's depth in defensive midfield
New Barcelona boss Hansi Flick seems happy with the team's depth in defensive midfield despite the reported pursuit of targets like Mikel Merino and Wendel this summer.
Having succeeded Xavi at the end of the season, the former Bayern Munich and Germany tactician hinted that he could pool in talent from the club's La Masia academy (as per Barca Blaugranes):
“At the moment, I am really happy with what I see (in defensive midfield). I think we have players in the team that can play this position really well. All the players know what they have to do. It could also be one of the younger players, from La Masia.”
Barca begin their pre-season tour of the US on Tuesday (July 30) against Manchester City in Orlando before they take on their arch-rivals Real Madrid three days later in New Jersey. The tour ends with a clash with AC Milan in Baltimore on August 6.
