Barcelona 'planning summer move for Sofyan Amrabat'

Barcelona have reportedly identified Sofyan Amrabat as their leading midfield target this summer.

Sergio Busquets is expected to inform the Catalan outfit in the coming days that he will sign another deal with the club until the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

However, Barcelona are still looking to add a low-cost defensive midfielder to their squad during this summer's transfer window, with head coach Xavi viewing it as a priority position to improve.

Amrabat was heavily linked with a move to Camp Nou in January, but the winter transfer window closed with the midfielder still at Italian club Fiorentina.

According to AS, Barcelona will reignite their interest during this summer's transfer window and are confident of signing the 26-year-old for 'a reasonable price', as his current deal is due to expire in June 2024.

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The report claims that Xavi believes that signing Amrabat would allow Frenkie de Jong to take his game to a new level, with the Dutchman set to stay at Camp Nou despite claims that Manchester United could reignite their interest in the summer market.

Amrabat's agent Mohamed Sinouh recently said that Fiorentina would be willing to let the Moroccan leave during this summer's transfer window.

The midfielder's brother Nordin Amrabat also said earlier this year that a winter move to Barcelona broke down as the La Liga side were unable to include "a mandatory purchase option" in the deal.

"Barca made a loan offer for Sofyan two or three days before the market closed, but they weren't able to include a mandatory purchase option and that was it", he told ESPN at the time.

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Amrabat has been a vital player for Fiorentina during the 2022-23 campaign, featuring on 43 occasions in all competitions, contributing one assist in the process.

The central midfielder also starred for Morocco at the 2022 World Cup, helping his national team to reach the semi-finals of the competition in Qatar.

Amrabat arrived at the Purples from Club Brugge in 2020, and he has represented his current side on 101 occasions in all competitions, scoring once and providing one assist.

"We received many offers in January, including ones from Manchester United and Barca, but an agreement could not be reached. The Fiorentina president refused to sell, because he represented a strong value after the World Cup," the midfielder's agent Sinouh added earlier this year.

Man United are believed to be monitoring the situation, but Barcelona are seemingly the clear favourites when it comes to a summer deal.