Barcelona Want To Offload Firpo And Sign PSG’s Kurzawa On A Free, Claims Report

Junior Firpo has not cut the mustard at FC Barcelona.

Enjoying a breakout season under Quique Setien at Real Betis, the Dominican-born Spain U-21 was signed by the Blaugrana for a fee of $20mn last summer, but has not taken opportunities to shine in the first team in the absence of Jordi Alba.

Though Alba is still one of the world’s best left backs, there have been three lengthy injuries of note in 2019/2020 and such was Ernesto Valverde’s lack of faith in the 23-year-old that he opted to put right back Nelson Semedo on the other flank instead.

Valverde’s January dismissal and the arrival of Setien at the Camp Nou should have spelled fresh opportunities for Firpo, but he has still been sub-par with poor performances in key matches such as Barca’s 1-1 draw with Napoli in the Champions League last 16 first leg.

The club ready to give up on its charge, it was reported at the weekend by SPORT that Firpo would be offered in a part-exchange deal for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez. But even if that never comes to fruition, they will still look to sell him and recuperate that $20mn fee.

A back-up to Alba is still needed, then. And as the plan is to invest money in a left-sided center back that can replace Samuel Umtiti, who FCB also wish to get off the books, free transfers are a more attractive prospect.

For these reasons, PSG’s Layvin Kurzawa fits the bill perfectly and it is claimed by the same Catalan sports daily newspaper on Tuesday morning that the 27-year-old’s capture could be relatively straightforward to pull off.

Refusing to extend his current deal in the French capital, Kurzawa resisted a January sale by the Ligue 1 giants to walk for nothing this summer with the likes of Inter Milan, Napoli, Liverpool and Arsenal all keen to acquire his services.

An offensive full back that fits the Barca mold, while never one to shirk his defensive responsibilities, Kurzawa is “represented by a company that works often with Barça and has a good relationship with the club”, which could ease negotiations.