Barcelona Enter Race to Sign Fiorentina Star Amid Rumoured Interest From Fellow European Giants
Fiorentina's Federico Bernardeschi has emerged a possible Barcelona transfer target, according to Spanish news outlet Sport.
The website has reported that La Blaugrana have added the winger to their list of possible targets ahead of the summer window's official opening on 1st July, and would need to part with around £35m if they are to be successful in signing Bernardeschi.
Bernardeschi's contract with I Viola is set to run out in June 2019 and, with no current offer on the table over extending his stay, Barcelona may look to pounce while the iron is still hot.
However, Ernesto Valverde may face competition from Fiorentina's Serie A rivals Juventus and Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich if they are to complete a potential swoop for the 23-year-old.
Valverde has earmarked the wide positions in his Barcelona first-team squad as a weakness, and wants to bring in new recruits to fulfil the roles on the wing with Bernardeschi front and centre on his shortlist.
Bernardeschi fired home 14 goals and registered five assists for Fiorentina last term and is among the most highly rated players to emerge within Italian football for a number of years.
The left winger, who can also operate on the right and as a secondary striker, has the pace, trickery and end product to be able to adapt to Spanish football and become an important part of Barca's squad moving forward.
Rumours of his possible departure have only been heightened in recent times after talks over extending his deal at the Stadio Artemio Franchi stalled, despite Bernardeschi wanting to put pen-to-paper on fresh terms with the Florence-based team.
That gossip - surrounding Barcelona's interest at least - has also been given added traction after the club's sporting director Robert Fernandez was spotted at Fiorentina's training ground back in April, although it is unclear whether he was there to hold discussions over the availability of Bernardeschi.
Bernardeschi, who has been capped nine times by Italy's senior national side, has nothced 23 goals and 13 assists in 93 appearances for Fiorentina after breaking through into their first-team setup.
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