Girona boss Míchel responds to Barcelona’s Artem Dovbyk links | OneFootball

Girona head coach Míchel was on Monday drawn on the speculation linking star frontman Artem Dovbyk with a move to Catalan neighbours Barcelona.

Dovbyk, for his part, has of course proven an integral figure in the historic campaign being enjoyed by Girona to date.

All told, across 33 La Liga appearances to date, the Ukrainian has racked up 20 goals and seven assists, enough to place him as the front-runner for the Pichichi award.

With such stellar exploits, though, has come inevitable outside interest.

It has of late been suggested in the media that the aforementioned Barcelona have earmarked Dovbyk as a potential replacement for the aging Robert Lewandowski.

Speaking to the media on Monday, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of precisely as much was put to the aforementioned Míchel.

And, in his response, Girona’s headmaster did not exactly do much to play the links down, admitting that it will be ‘impossible’ for him to keep his Blanquivermells squad fully intact for next season:

“They have touched many of our players because they are very good,” Míchel began, as cited by Mundo Deportivo. “I would like the team to continue intact for next year, although I know that is impossible because there are always changes, no matter how small.”

Conor Laird | GSFN