Joan Laporta confirms Barcelona 'very close' to Gavi contract agreement

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed that the club is ‘very close’ to reaching an agreement with teen prodigy Gavi over a new contract.

Gavi, who doesn’t even turn 18 until August, established himself as an important first-team player for Barça in 2021/22, making 47 appearances in all competitions.

But the youngster is only under contract at Camp Nou for another year, which had given rise to speculation about his future this summer – Liverpool have been one of the clubs repeatedly linked with a swoop in the transfer market, for example.

It has even been reported in recent days that Gavi had rejected Barcelona’s opening contract offer worth €2m per year. That figure is dwarfed by the number that will supposedly be on the table from Liverpool, which is closer to €9m.

However, Gavi’s preferred option all along is still thought to be renewing with Barça. According to local broadcaster Beteve, Gavi’s camp are seeking a deal worth an initial €4m per year that will subsequently increase with each passing season.

It is clear that a degree of compromise between club and player has been needed, but Laporta expressed considerable confidence of securing an agreement when he told Relevo: “We are optimistic about the renewal of Gavi. We want him to continue at Barça.

“We are very close to reaching an agreement.”

On the latest edition of Talking Transfers, Harry Symeou hosts as 90min's transfer correspondent Graeme Bailey and Toby Cudworth who discuss the futures of Bukayo Saka, Raphael Leao, Romelu Lukaku, Kalvin Phillips, Youri Tielemans, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Raphinha, Gabriel Jesus and more! 

Given his age and very sudden rise, Gavi is currently Barça’s lowest paid first-team player by some distance at an estimated €100,000 per year. SPORT has reported that his anticipated new contract will end up being on similar terms to the deal recently signed by Ronald Araujo.

It is expected to be a five-year deal with a €1bn buyout clause, matching the figure inserted into Araujo’s deal and those of fellow junior talents Pedri and Ansu Fati.

Gavi joined Barcelona in 2015 at the age of 11 after starring in Real Betis' youth academy.

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