Portuguese giants FC Porto are reportedly keen on signing out-of-favour Barcelona midfielder Riqui Puig in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Spanish publication SPORT, Riqui Puig is the subject of interest from FC Porto over a possible move in the summer transfer window. The Portuguese giants want to sign the out-of-favour Spanish midfielder on loan, but Barcelona will first make him sign a one-year extension before sanctioning a deal.
Riqui Puig’s progress has come to a grinding halt after two forgettable seasons where he has barely started any games for Barcelona. The 22-year-old seemed to have a bright future when Quique Setien used him fairly regularly, but his stock has fallen considerably since then, with neither Ronald Koeman nor Xavi Hernandez fancying him much.
The out-of-favour Spanish midfielder is rock-bottom in the pecking order for midfielders at Camp Nou and managed only 544 minutes of game-time across 18 appearances for Barcelona this past season. And with his progress stunted, Puig needs to leave Barcelona this summer to get his career back on track, with FC Porto reportedly keen on signing him.
The interest from Porto stems from the uncertainties surrounding the future of Sergio Oliveira, who has returned after an unsuccessful loan spell with AS Roma. The Portuguese international is on the verge of completing a move to Galatasaray and is currently in Turkey to complete his medical ahead of a summer transfer.
In addition, Marko Grujic is attracting interest from several clubs, with Fulham recently submitting a bid to sign the former Liverpool midfielder. Puig is thus a viable target for Porto, with the Portuguese giants lodging an offer with Barcelona to sign the Barcelona midfielder on loan in the summer transfer window.
Barcelona will not stop Puig from leaving, considering he is surplus to requirements at Camp Nou. But with the out-of-favour Spanish midfielder in the final year of his contract, Barcelona will make him sign a one-year extension before letting him leave.
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Puig has also attracted interest from Benfica and Fiorentina. But while the Portuguese giants now have other priorities, La Viola recently decided against pursuing the Barcelona outcast. It will be interesting to see if FC Porto will succeed in prising Puig away from Barcelona in a loan deal this summer.
