Barcelona's $591M forward Could Head To Premier League This Summer: Report

Leicester City have reportedly approached FC Barcelona over a two-year loan deal for 20-year-old striker Francisco Trincao in the ongoing transfer market.

The loan deal will also include an obligation to buy Trincao for $58 million, as reported by The Guardian. The 20-year-old forward is counted among Portugal promising players. Barcelona secured him for $33 million from Portugal’s club Braga during January in a deal that saw the player move to Nou Camp this summer.

Trincao’s joining date at Barcelona was pushed from July 1 after the Portuguese season was extended due to the coronavirus pandemic. On July 27, Trincao played his final game for Braga.

If Barcelona agrees to loan Trincaso this summer, the young forward would move to Leicester for the 2020-21 season without making an appearance for the Catalan side. Although Barcelona are not looking to sell the 20-year-old playmaker, they could consider it if players such as Phillipe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele fail to find buyers this summer. Barcelona right now are desperate to clear funds and are believed to have put at least 10 players on sale this transfer window.

The Guardian report has also disclosed that Leicester will face stern competition to sign Trincao this summer as the player has earned the attention of other European clubs as well, including Serie A side Atalanta that have been recently linked with the forward. However, the Portugal Under-21 player won’t come for cheap as he still has two years left on his current contract with Barcelona, where his release clause is expected to be around $591 million.

Trincao, who is left-footed and can play anywhere across the frontline but usually plays on the wing, scored eight goals and provided as many assists in 27 league appearances for Braga last season, a club he had joined in December 2018.

Meanwhile, Barcelona are preparing to get rid of Martin Braithwaite as talks with West Ham over the player’s transfer are believed to be in "advanced stage." The striker moved from Leganes to Nou Camp in February as an emergency signing following long-term injuries to forwards Luis Suarez (knee) and Ousmane Dembele (hamstring).