One of the major challenges that FC Barcelona faced for the summer transfer market of the 2024/25 season was acquiring the services of a top midfielder. Despite the team having a significant number of pieces in the midfield, it seems that there is still a need for a player to strengthen the Barcelona midfield. Currently, with Marc Bernal's injuries and Frenkie de Jong's apparent chronic issue with his right ankle, they are lacking, except for Marc Casadó, dynamic players who can naturally perform in that area of the field.
Given this, it's not surprising that the Catalan club is already monitoring their options with the aim of having a clear idea of the player they will bet on for the upcoming summer transfer window of 2025/26. At this point, there is a name that continues to be seen as an attractive piece for the Barcelona sporting direction: Joshua Kimmich, a long-standing desire of the Blaugrana team and if he doesn't renew his contract with Bayern Munich, in 2025 the idea of bringing him in on a free transfer could be explored.
This option is more than viable for FC Barcelona, if the German midfielder is willing to join the team and, of course, if they can reach an agreement regarding salary demands, since as a star player, it's understandable that he would demand a significant salary. Just consider what he currently earns at Bayern, around 10.3 million euros net per year, which can serve as a benchmark for how much Barça would have to spend to have him in the club.
Leon Goretzka, a 'hidden' option for FC Barcelona's midfield?
Now, as suggested by 'SPORT', Joshua Kimmich is not the only midfielder from Bayern Munich on FC Barcelona's radar. In this sense, the Barcelona team wouldn't mind exploring their options with Leon Goretzka, a player whose role in the Bavarian club's sporting project is not entirely clear.
It's not far-fetched to think that he might be on the list of assets to sell for the summer transfer market of the 2025/26 season, as he becomes a free agent in 2026. Furthermore, the prospect of his renewal seems far from being finalized, as he doesn't appear to fit into the plans of Bayern's new coach, Vincent Kompany. Therefore, FC Barcelona could try to acquire him for an appealing price.
Fabián Ruiz, another option that seems to appeal to the Blaugrana team
Lastly, another alternative that is also being considered as an option to evaluate by the Barcelona board is the addition of Spanish international Fabián Ruiz, a midfielder who seems to be starting to have a secondary role at Paris Saint-Germain. Luis Enrique would be prioritizing handing over the reins of the midfield to João Neves and Warren Zaire-Emery at the Parisian club.
At 28 years old and still capable of being decisive, as he has shown with the Spanish national team, it wouldn't be surprising if the Catalan team, for the right price, decided to finalize his incorporation. A signing that would undoubtedly bring an undeniable quality boost to Barça's midfield.