New Barcelona Coach Already Proposed Replacement For Veteran Barca Star, Source Reveals

Barcelona’s newly appointed manager, Ronald Koeman, wants Manchester City on-loan player Angeliño, a report said, amid talks of plans to let go of veteran Barca star Jordi Alba.

Barcelona is expected to make a series of changes heading into the next season. The Catalans have already started replacing people in the club, and the arrival of the club’s new manager could mark the start of roster revamping. In fact, The Athletic U.K.'s Sam Lee recently learned that the newly appointed coach has already asked the board to consider signing Man City loanee Angeliño.

“Barcelona sniffing around Angeliño, Ronald Koeman supposedly behind the interest. City want €30m which was similar to his clause at Leipzig. It’s absolutely anybody’s guess who’s coming or going at Barca this summer,” Lee revealed Sunday.

After an impressive loan season with RB Leipzig, Angeliño became a prospect for the new Barca coach, with some reports suggesting that the player could be a proper replacement for Alba.

The Spanish full-back has been included in Barcelona’s list of transferrable players, Spanish radio Cadena SER's "El Larguero" reported. Koeman’s arrival didn’t help Alba’s situation and could even see him parting ways with the Catalans as the Dutch manager is said to be the man “behind the interest” in Angeliño, the report added.

RB Leipzig has been one of the most successful clubs in the past season. The German side managed to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, with Angeliño being one of the team’s standouts. The left-back has made 30 appearances for Man City and RB Leipzig combined this season, recording one goal and seven assists.

Signing Angeliño isn’t much of a problem for Barca as City’s reported asking price for the player could be around €30 million ($35.3 million). This figure would be affordable for Barcelona, especially if the sale of Alba will come to fruition as the veteran is expected to still generate a good sum of money for the Catalans.

Aside from Angeliño, Barcelona is also looking to add another City standout. Barça has made an offer of €10 million ($11.8 million) to the English club for Eric Garcia, Mundo Deportivo reported.

The report noted that Barcelona has yet to receive a response from City with regards to the situation of the center-back despite already making an opening bid.