PSG ‘join the race for Dani Olmo’ amid Man City and Arsenal interest – after Barcelona attempts to re-register £50m star were sensationally blocked by LaLiga, leaving him free to move
Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly getting ready to capitalise on Barcelona’s failure to re-register summer signing Dani Olmo with LaLiga, and plot a move for the Spanish star.
The attacking midfielder was a £50million signing from Red Bull Leipzig in the summer but could only be registered on a temporary arrangement until the end of the calendar year owing to LaLiga‘s ongoing financial constraints on Barcelona.
It means Olmo can leave as a free agent if Spain’s football federation continue to block his registration for the second part of the season as they push for the Catalan giants to make more cuts, find more revenue and comply with their financial guidelines.
Barcelona have instigated legal proceedings against LaLiga and were initially hopeful of reaching a resolution before next week.
But yesterday the league informed that their attempt to re-register Dani Olmo for the second-half of the season had been rejected. The Commercial Court 10 of Barcelona made the decision public, announcing that they would not be allowing the Blaugrana to register the midfielder.
As the 26-year-old inches towards the door, clubs have began circling for his signature and now another European giant has joined Manchester City and Arsenal in the race for the Spanish player, SPORT reports.
Dani Olmo looks to be heading towards the Barcelona door and another giant are interested
Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly keeping tabs on the Spanish star
Barcelona were informed yesterday that their attempt to register Olmo had been rejected
Paris Saint-Germain have entered the fray as they continue to look for creative reinforcements with Lyon’s Rayan Cherki believed to be another option amid the French club’s own financial struggles.
PSG boss Luis Enrique already knows Olmo from the Spanish national team and is keeping tabs on his situation at Barcelona.
In response to the latest setback, the Catalan giants are expected to present a new lawsuit against LaLiga in a last-ditch attempt to have their summer signing available for the second-half of the season, according to Mundo Deportivo.
It is expected that they will present the argument that the registration rules are invalid because they are regulated by a body that they consider incompetent.
According to SPORT, during a meeting on Monday, a contract for the sale of VIP seats was put on the table in order to try and ease their financial constraints.
The LaLiga giants hope that, in principle, the package was going to be sold for about £166miliion (€200m) – in a desperate bid to raise funds and register Olmo and Victor.
Mail Sport revealed on Boxing Day that, with time ticking, the situation has alerted leading Premier League clubs such as City, United and Arsenal, who have taken a keen interest in whether a player so instrumental in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph could be available for nothing next month.
Olmo’s priority has always been to stay with Barcelona, his boyhood club, but the drawn out process is understood to have forced his agent Andy Bara to begin exploring potential moves for the 26-year old who is recognised as one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe.
Hansi Flick’s side spent £50million to sign Olmo during the summer but could see him leave
The Spaniard has scored five goals from 11 LaLiga matches for the Catalan giants
Olmo’s agent Andy Bara (left) was in Manchester this week after Premier League clubs became alerted to the midfielder’s situation
The agent was also pivotal in Manchester City landing Josko Gvardiol from Red Bull Leipzig
Croatian Bara, 42, is owner of Niagara Sports Company, one of the biggest agencies in the world. A former centre back, he has forged a reputation as a leading agent representing Olmo, Spain captain Alvaro Morata and other figures such as Lovro Majer and previously Marcelo Brozovic.
Bara also played a role in City’s £77m deal to land Josko Gvardiol from Red Bull Leipzig in 2023.
Bara flew to Manchester by private jet ahead of City’s draw with Everton and was due to be attending the game.
Contacted by Mail Sport, Bara confirmed: ‘Yes, it is correct I am in Manchester. I am here on holidays.’
It was also recently reported that Barcelona have issued ultimatums to both Frenkie de Jong and Ronald Araujo, with the pair’s contracts expiring in 2026.
Uruguayan star Araujo looks likely to put pen to paper soon and is expected to graduate to a more important role within the first team and rival other centre-backs including Iñigo Martínez and Pau Víctor for a place in the side.
De Jong is a slightly different case, having arrived to much fanfare from Ajax for £72million in 2019, with the Dutchman missing a chunk of the start of the season after suffering ankle ligament damage in April.
And the centre midfielder could be set for a change after refusing a contract extension earlier this year, meaning negotiations will have to commence once again.
