Barcelona 'open to selling Ansu Fati next summer'

Barcelona are reportedly prepared to cash in on Ansu Fati during next summer's transfer window.

During the early time of his spell in the Barcelona senior ranks, Fati was tipped to be the heir to the throne of Lionel Messi and potentially spend his entire career at Camp Nou.

However, despite taking his tally to 29 goals and 10 assists from 112 appearances in all competitions for the Catalan giants last season, the winger spent the majority of his time on the substitutes' bench.

That led to the Spain international becoming regarded as a dispensable asset during the previous transfer window, Barcelona being desperate to boost their financial position as much as possible.

As well as Fati not wanting to seal a permanent transfer away, realistic offers did not arrive, and a straight loan switch to Brighton & Hove Albion was eventually completed.

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The 20-year-old has since been provided with regular game time at the Seagulls, accumulating 239 minutes of football across five appearances in all competitions.

Fati also got on the scoresheet in the Premier League at the weekend, albeit in a 6-1 defeat to Aston Villa, and he will hope to feature when Brighton face Marseille in the Europa League on Thursday night.

From Barcelona's perspective, they hope to see Fati be provided with as much game time as possible in order to justify setting his asking price as high as possible next summer.

According to Sport, club officials have already decided to part ways with Fati if they receive a suitable offer for his signature.

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With Barcelona's financial cap for 2024-25 having already been revealed by La Liga, president Joan Laporta is aware of the cutbacks that need to be made in due course.

The report suggests that a number of Premier League clubs are monitoring the situation in the event that Fati kick-starts his career at the Amex Stadium.

Atletico Madrid may also be open to negotiating a swap or part-exchange deal if it means that they are able to get Joao Felix - who is on loan at Barcelona - off their books.

While Fati still has a contract at Barcelona until 2027, there appears little prospect of him being reintegrated into the first-team picture unless he stars at Brighton or other big-money sales are made in due course.