Barcelona are reportedly eyeing a surprise move for Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey once his contract with the North London club expires next summer. The Catalan giants, facing financial constraints and struggling to register Dani Olmo in January, are once again exploring financial levers. However, they may still lack the funds needed to strengthen their squad significantly.
As a result, Barcelona are shifting their focus to the free transfer market and have set their sights on Partey, whose contract runs out in 2025. The Ghanaian midfielder has yet to be offered a new deal by Arsenal, making him a viable option for Barca. Despite his history of injury setbacks, Partey has managed to stay fit this season, featuring in 17 Premier League matches while contributing two goals and two assists. He has also played a key role in Arsenal’s Champions League campaign, starting all six group-stage fixtures.
Barcelona view Partey as a potential replacement for Frenkie de Jong, whom they are once again looking to offload due to his high wages. However, while Partey would bring quality to the squad, some believe the club should aim higher. Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich, who is set to become a free agent next summer, presents a more attractive option. Reports suggest Kimmich is unhappy with Bayern’s attempts to lower his salary from €20 million per year, making a departure from the Allianz Arena a real possibility. Several clubs are monitoring the situation, and Barcelona will need to act swiftly if they want to secure the versatile German international, who can also cover right-back—a position in which they require reinforcements.
Meanwhile, speculation continues to swirl around Liverpool’s interest in Julian Alvarez. While there have been no recent moves for the Argentine forward, reports confirm that the Reds have previously shown interest in him. Alvarez joined Atletico Madrid from Manchester City in the summer of 2024 for £82 million after scoring 36 goals and providing 17 assists in 103 appearances for the Cityzens. During his time at the Etihad, he won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, and a Champions League trophy but often played second fiddle to Erling Haaland. Since his move to Spain, Alvarez has thrived, netting 23 goals and providing five assists in 44 appearances this season.
Barcelona also failed in their bid to sign Nico Williams. Sporting director Deco and president Joan Laporta had placed the winger high on their priority list, believing he would be the perfect fit alongside Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. However, Athletic Bilbao managed to convince their star to extend his contract, ensuring he remained at San Mamés. Financial limitations made it impossible for Barcelona to trigger his release clause last summer, and with the arrival of Dani Olmo, the club’s pursuit of Williams eventually cooled.
Looking ahead, Barcelona are now shifting their attention to Mohamed Salah, hoping to capitalise on the fact that the Egyptian forward will be a free agent in June.
