Barcelona have reportedly lodged a €30 million bid to land Jean Michael Seri from OGC Nice before the transfer window slams shut.
Spanish publication Sport have reported that Barcelona have put an official offer on the table for Jean Michael Seri, having reignited the interest in the player. The Blaugrana have lodged a €30 million bid to Nice for the Ivory Coast international, and are confident of completing a deal for him imminently.
Seri shot into the limelight last season, playing an instrumental role in Nice’s shock third place finish in Ligue 1 that has put them on the cusp of Champions League group stage qualification for the first time.
A mainstay in midfield, the Ivorian played in all but four league games for the French Riviera club, with an impressive return of seven goals and nine assists to show for his efforts. Subsequently, the player has ended up attracting interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool.
Jean-Michaël Seri to Barcelona could be concluded in the coming days. pic.twitter.com/thwAjmtfHS
— Transfer News (@TrustyTransfers) August 19, 2017
However, Barcelona are leading the race to sign Seri, having reignited their interest in him in recent weeks. Indeed, midfield is believed to be a priority for Ernesto Valverde despite the addition of Paulinho, but he has failed to land any of his primary targets thus far.
The Catalan club have been found wanting at the centre of the park of late, often struggling to assert control from midfield which translates to lackadaisical chance creation. Ivan Rakitic’s dip in form hasn’t helped matters either, and with Andres Iniesta well into the twilight years of his career, Seri has emerged as a viable target.
The Ivory Coast international has often been compared to Xavi, and if he can replicate some of the legendary Spaniard’s exploits at Camp Nou, Barcelona could potentially rediscover their swagger. The Blaugrana have now made a serious offer to acquire Seri, by tabling a €30 million bid for him.
The report suggests that Barcelona have already agreed personal terms with the player, who has admitted his love for the club on several occasions previously. It now remains to be seen if Nice accept the bid on their table, or if the Catalan club are forced to raise their offer for the player.
Seri is believed to have a €40 million release clause in his contract with the Ligue 1 club, who have often made it clear that they are seeking the maximum amount for their player. Should that be the case, Barcelona will have to meet the aforementioned figure in order to land their target man before the transfer window closes.
