The latest reports from Spain suggest that Barcelona are still trying to get around paying up to buy Adama Traore from Wolves this summer.
Sport claim that Barcelona are only interested in signing Traore if it is a free transfer at the end of the season, despite their purchase option.
It appears they have no indication of paying it and are still looking into alternative ways around it, with three mooted.
Barca would be open to loaning Traore again – for no loan fee – if he signed an extra year’s extension at Molineux.
There are also mooted swap deals, between Francisco Trincao, which looks a bit easier to do with both wingers at their respective prospective destinations.
Riqui Puig is also mooted and is of interest to Wolves, potentially improving the centre of their midfield.
But let’s be honest, these are all solutions which are incredibly convenient for Barca, who should not have this much power in the negotiations given their financial issues.
Wolves could not convince Traore to sign a new deal and needed to get that issue resolved.
They really should have got a compulsory purchase clause in the loan deal. That would give them a set amount of cash to improve any area of the squad they choose.
As it stands, they could get a swap deal winger to winger, which does not really boost the squad in the way that getting rid of a high-value player should, by allowing Wolves to reinvest.
Now, there is more uncertainty and it seems Barcelona are only putting forward solutions which really do not – or should not – work for Wolves.
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