Barcelona open talks for English winger as Nico Williams alternative | OneFootball

Barcelona have reportedly opened talks with Hull City for 22-year-old winger Jaden Philogene, as a potential option to give them cover on the left side of attack. Luis Diaz and Nico Williams have been underlined as their priority targets for the left wing, but the Blaugrana are working on alternatives in case they cannot pull off those deals, or simply a rotational option.

Philogene, 22, moved to Hull from Aston Villa last summer in exchange for €5.8m, and the Villains have a buyback clause for him, which would rise to €15m if the Tigers were promoted to the Premier League. The Blaugrana for their part are working on a loan with an option to buy for Philogene, although no figures are mentioned by Relevo, who broke the news. He would be an alternative on the left wing to Raphinha, Williams, or Diaz, depending on who is there next season.

Coming through the academy at Villa, Philogene has been linked to Barcelona in the past, but his season in the Championship has clearly put him back on their radar. This season he has scored 12 goals and given 6 assists in his 32 Championship appearances, impressing with his tricky dribbling. He missed a month of action and 10 games at the turn of the year, but has also been part of England’s under-21 side, with three goals in his four appearances. In particular, he went viral for one of the most outrageous goals of the season.

A deal would be bad news for the likes of 18-year-old Dani Rodriguez, who is currently in talks over a new contract, and could have benefitted from minutes on the left side, as well as the likes of Joao Felix or Ferran Torres. While both could be used elsewhere in Hansi Flick’s 4-2-3-1 if that is the rough shape he goes for, it is a position where certainly the Portuguese had most of his minutes this season, if he does return.