KEY POINTS

  • Gavi made his Barca debut earlier this year
  • The 17-year-old midfielder has already played 19 times for Barca's first team
  • He is contracted with Barcelona until 2023

FC Barcelona are reportedly on the verge of losing their teenage sensation Gavi, who is wanted by Liverpool FC.

Following Barcelona's elimination from UEFA Champions League after their recent 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich, many players at Camp Nou have decided to keep their contract renewals on hold. Gavi, who is contracted with Barcelona until 2023, has a release clause of $56 million, which Liverpool are ready to pay even without negotiating with the Catalan club, reported El Nacional.

Liverpool, who are unbeaten in the Champions League, still need to strengthen their midfield, according to Jurgen Klopp and the German manager has short-listed Gavi for the role ahead of the January transfer window. The Liverpool board is willing to go ahead with it believing it would be a great investment, the report claimed.

Barcelona recently extended the deals of Ansu Fati and Pedri and included a massive release clause of $1.1 billion in their respective new contracts. The La Liga side considers Gavi in the same league as the duo and is looking to offer the former Real Betis youth player a five-year deal, according to soccer website Barca Blaugranes.

However, a lot has changed over the last month or so and it would be difficult for Gavi to turn down an offer from a club like Liverpool. He will not only get to win trophies, something that currently looks difficult at Barcelona, but also play under Klopp, one of the best managers in soccer at present.

Klopp is known to bring the best out of young players and the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones are the testimony to it.

The 17-year-old Gavi started his professional career at Real Betis when he joined their youth academy in 2014. Having scored some 90-odd goals for Betis' youth side, he was scouted by Barcelona. The Catalan club's La Masia academy signed an 11-year-old Gavi in 2015.

Young midfielder Gavi has been a rare plus point for Barca this season
Young midfielder Gavi has been a rare plus point for Barca this season AFP / OSCAR DEL POZO

Gavi rose through the ranks of Barcelona's youth set up and forced his way into the first team earlier this year. Gavi has already made 19 appearances in the 2021-22 campaign for Barcelona's senior side, across all competitions. He was also handed his Spain debut. He now has played four games for Spain's senior team, including the final of the UEFA Nations League, which La Roja lost 2-1.

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