Barcelona set eyes on 26years old Portuguese star to replace Memphis Depay on loan.

As Barcelona prepares to bid farewell to Memphis Depay, who will be joining Atletico Madrid on a permanent deal, manager Xavi Hernandez has set his sights on a replacement. According to reports from Spanish publication AS, the Catalan giant has identified Wolves and Portugal forward Goncalo Guedes as their preferred candidate to fill Depay’s shoes.

The 26-year-old Guedes is currently available on the market, as Wolves have brought in new attacking reinforcements this summer and the Laliga league leaders are looking to take advantage of this situation and sign the versatile winger before the end of the month with reports stating that Xavi has already spoken to Guedes, who is said to be excited about the Barcelona project and open to making the move.

Guedes’s representation by Jorge Mendes, who has a good relationship with Barcelona president Joan Laporta, could also make the deal easier to negotiate. However, due to Barcelona’s financial fair play issues, the club is looking to sign Guedes on a loan deal until the end of the season, with a non-mandatory purchase option included in the operation.

It’s worth noting that Barcelona and Wolves had worked on a similar deal last January involving Adama Traore, but the Spanish winger was not signed permanently by the La Liga leaders. Additionally, Gerard Romero of RAC1 reports that the Blaugrana only want to cover a part of Guedes’ salary during the potential loan stint, with Wolves paying the rest.

Guedes has previous experience in La Liga, having played over 170 matches for Valencia. He would provide depth on the left flank while also being able to operate through the middle as well. With Xavi open to signing him and the player keen on the move, it’s now up to Barcelona to negotiate and strike an agreement with Wolves. The move is still on the table and awaits confirmation from both parties.