FC Barcelona Reach Verbal Agreement To Sign Eintracht Frankfurt’s Evan Ndicka

FC Barcelona have reached a verbal agreement to sign Evan Ndicka on a free transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt ahead of next season, according to reports.

The Frenchman obviously impressed Barca manager Xavi Hernandez when knocking his team out of the Europa League quarterfinals last season via a 4-3 aggregate win.

Despite the Germans going on to win the tournament, however, and advancing in the Champions League this term where they will face Italian Serie A leaders Napoli in the last 16 next week, Ndicka looks likely to leave in the summer.

According to Sport1 via AS, the 23-year-old has a verbal agreement in place with FC Barcelona to join them in 2023/2024.

The German outlet says that Barca must decide whether to press on with the operation in March, though, with their financial predicament as ever causing a potential obstacle.

As has been the case for the past few years, Barca have to navigate Financial Fair Play rules and La Liga’s strict salary cap whenever making new signings or registering the new contracts of their current players.

The Spanish top flight’s president Javier Tebas has warned them that they must eliminate €200mn ($215mn) in total from their wage bill, but Ndicka’s pay shouldn’t be too high considering his age and relatively inferior experience compared to other stars in the Barca squad or elsewhere around Europe.

If the reports about Ndicka are accurate, it is interesting that Barca feel they need another defender considering that their current back line has only leaked seven goals in 21 games – with 16 clean sheets – and has Xavi’s men on course to lift a first La Liga crown since 2019.

These potential developments could spell bad news for Eric Garcia. With Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen currently manning central defense, Jules Kounde is at right back but could move to the center whenever another one of the pair isn’t available as will be seen against Cadiz on Sunday due to Araujo’s suspension.

Garcia is currently fourth choice in the position, and there are already rumors he will be sold in the summer which could become concrete if Ndicka arrives.

Garcia also came back to Barca on a free transfer from Manchester City in 2021, which means his sale provides pure profit for president Joan Laporta and the board if realized.