Report: FC Porto not giving up on signing 20-year-old Barcelona defender | OneFootball

According to SPORT, FC Porto remain determined to acquire Barcelona defender Mikayil Faye.

Recently, Faye’s standing at Barcelona took a significant turn due to Ronald Araujo’s prolonged absence. While Barcelona are not entirely opposed to a transfer, they plan to revisit this situation during the January transfer window.

Meanwhile, Porto’s interest in Faye is unwavering. The Portuguese club still has their sights set on the young Senegalese centre-back, despite knowing that securing his transfer will require a substantially higher offer than their initial bid made a few weeks ago.

During their last meeting in Porto, FC Porto’s president, Andre Villas-Boas, and Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, failed to reach an agreement.

Why are Porto eager to get Faye?

This period has been particularly challenging for Porto, who need to balance their finances and can only afford a minimal transfer offer with limited variables.

Their proposal fell significantly short of Barcelona’s demands, as Barça is unwilling to part with one of their promising talents without receiving around €15 million.

FC Porto are not giving up on signing Mikayil Faye. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

However, the long-standing friendship between Villas-Boas and Deco prevented any fallout, allowing for further negotiations. Porto aim to restructure their squad, complete some sales, and boost their financial capacity to incorporate young talent with potential.

Villas-Boas asked for time and committed to presenting a better financial offer, which he conveyed to both Faye’s agents and Deco. There is a shared understanding that this transfer could be beneficial for both the player’s career and Barcelona’s finances.

Faye is impressing Hansi Flick

As these negotiations continue, pre-season training has commenced. Under new coach Hansi Flick, Faye has been training daily with Barcelona’s first team, showcasing his physical prowess to the new German manager.

Unfortunately, Flick has already encountered his first major setback with Araujo’s injury, which will sideline him for approximately four months. This leaves a significant void in Barcelona’s defence, which is already overcrowded but fraught with uncertainties.

The future remains uncertain for Faye as Flick assesses him during the United States tour. Simultaneously, the extent of Porto’s financial improvement will become clear if Villas-Boas can facilitate some high-value departures.