Barça B Barcelona B, English Transfer news

Barça B plans to begin transfer preparations for next season

Kays Ruiz-Atil of PSG during the Ligue 1 match between RC Lens and Paris Saint-Germain at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on September 10, 2020 in Lens, France / Jean Catuffe / GETTY IMAGES
Kays Ruiz-Atil of PSG during the Ligue 1 match between RC Lens and Paris Saint-Germain at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on September 10, 2020 in Lens, France / Jean Catuffe / GETTY IMAGES

Barça B is already looking to the future after ending its season last week. Mundo Deportivo reported Saturday that Barça B will begin preparing to sign and offload players for next season this week.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the team is eyeing to add multiple players this summer, while a handful of others are either set to join the first team or leave the club entirely.

The team’s primary target is signing Adrián Bernabé from Manchester City. The 19-year-old Spaniard, who plays as a center midfielder and left back, rose through the ranks of La Masia before leaving Barça’s U-18 team in 2018 to join Manchester City on a free transfer. He recorded two goals and six assists in 14 Premier League 2 appearances for Manchester City’s U-23s as well as a goal and an assist in the EFL Trophy. His only senior appearance came in the Carabao Cup.

Barça B is also vying to sign Paris Saint-Germain’s Kays Ruiz-Atil, a former La Masia product who played in the academy from 2009-2015 before returning to France. The 18-year-old midfielder progressed through PSG’s academy and broke into the senior team this season, but he has yet to play under Mauricio Pochettino. With his contract set to expire this summer, the Blaugrana will compete with Chelsea and Manchester City to sign him on a free transfer.

Additionally, Barça B will look to add four more players this summer. 22-year-old winger Ferran Jutglà from Espanyol B, 20-year-old midfielder Antonio Aranda from Granada, and 20-year-old right back Sergio Carreira from Celta Vigo B are each linked to the Blaugrana. ESPN also reported today that the team is negotiating with Hércules C.F. to sign winger Abde.

There are also players set to be promoted this summer. First, goalkeeper Iñaki Peña is set to join the first team next season, which means Arnau Tenas will become Barça B’s starting keeper. Winger Álex Collado, who signed a contract with the club last month that lasts until 2023, is predicted to join the senior team as well. However, he has be linked to other clubs around Europe, so his future is not yet set in stone.

The future of 26-year-old centre back Roger Riera, who rejoined the Blaugrana in January from NAC Breda, is also unknown, though he is reportedly open to staying with the team another season. Winger Hiroki Abe might stay with the team an additional year after being sidelined due to injuries this season.

Konrad de la Fuente and Rey Manaj, who have yet to solidify a future in the first team, are reportedly open to receiving offers from other clubs this summer.