FC Barcelona Reach Agreement To Sign Valencia Star Soler

FC Barcelona have reached an agreement to sign Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler, according to reports from Spain.

As claim that the operation will see the 25-year-old, whose contract expires in 2023, switch allegiances for a low fee of €20mn ($21mn).

If the reports are true, the Catalans have effectively decided to sell Frenkie de Jong, who has interest from Manchester United and Bayern Munich with Barca’s asking price believed to be €70mn ($74mn).

Though this means that the Catalans would lose around €5mn ($5.2mn) on what they paid Ajax for De Jong in 2019, it can still be thought that there is a profit of 10 times that value to be made by selling the Netherlands international and landing Soler as a replacement.

Xavi has allegedly given the Soler approach the green light, and with captain Sergio Busquets and Pedri untouchable, the Valencia academy product would battle for a vacant spot in the center of the park with breakout star Gavi, Nico Gonzalez, and the incoming Franck Kessie.

As say that whether the deal comes off or not is dependent on whether De Jong can be sold with Barca and Valencia in “advanced talks”.

But already in an official statement since the story broke, Valencia have denied that they have agreed to offload one of their greatest homegrown talents.

“In response to a story published this Monday in Spanish newspaper Diario AS, Valencia CF deny the existence of any agreement – or any ongoing negotiation – with FC Barcelona for the transfer of Carlos Soler,” Valencia wrote.

“The club are currently in an open negotiation process with the player and his agents to extend his contract with Valencia CF.”

Over in Madrid, As’ capital-based rival MAR
AR
CA say they have contacted “official Barcelona sources” who have assured them that there are no negotiations with Valencia and “much less an agreement” with the La Liga club and with Soler.

Joining Valencia as an eight-year-old and progressing to the first team in 2016, Soler has made 219 senior appearances for his boyhood outfit with a return of 35 goals and the 2019 Copa del Rey trophy won against Barca in Seville.