Following the injury to Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, Barcelona are ready to make a shock loan deal for Valencia striker Rodrigo before the January transfer window shut down.
Suarez will be sidelined for at least six weeks after he required surgery on a knee injury and the Catalan club are desperate to find emergency cover for the forward this month. The Spanish club are interested in signing Monaco’s Wissam Ben Yedder, RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner and now looking at six-month loan options for Rodrigo.
According to SPORT, Barcelona have begun negotiations with Valencia over the possible loan signing of the Spanish striker. The report added that the Catalans are willing to include a player to sweeten the deal for Rodrigo.
Lionel Messi started upfront in Quique Setién’s first game in charge, but club officials fear that they do not have enough cover behind the Argentine and Antoine Griezmann. The Catalans are scared that things would get even worse if anything were to happen to both players. As a result, they want a new high-profile striker such as Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but the deal to sign Rodrigo is looking most likely.
According to Mundo Deportivo, new Barca coach Setién has told the club executives to sign another striker and Barcelona have decided that they want an out-and-out striker rather than a winger or a false nine. The report added that the club sees the Arsenal striker, who has scored 16 goals in 26 appearances this season, as their preferred option among strikers available.
Deportivo claimed that Barca have considered other forwards, but Aubameyang’s pace is believed to make him the more ideal option. The striker has also not hidden the fact he could be tempted away from north London with Arsenal looking increasingly likely to miss out on Champions League football again next season.
Earlier in the month, Aubameyang distanced himself from a rumoured move away from the Gunners, stating he is “committed to the club and desperate to bring it back to the top”.
“I would also like to react to some of the rumours that are going around about me in the media.
“People like making up stories and they should focus on what’s happening on the pitch.
“They talk too much and it does my head in! I am the Arsenal captain. I love this club.
“I am committed to it and desperate to bring it back to the top, where it belongs.”
