Manchester City and Liverpool are among the Premier League clubs keeping a close eye on Gavi’s situation at Barcelona, amid a dispute over whether the Spanish side can afford to register the midfielder.
Gavi’s future at Barcelona appears uncertain after a dispute between La Liga and the Catalans over the teenager’s registration.
The 18-year-old was previously on a youth contract at the Camp Nou, before Barcelona agreed a contract worth €8m per season to make Gavi a senior player. That deal included a release clause of €1bn, but the agreement could be deemed ‘null and void’ if La Liga fail to approve the terms.
La Liga insist Barcelona cannot register new players due to the club’s economic issues and the division’s financial rules, with a Barcelona court having now reversed their initial decision to approve Gavi’s registration.
Having previously ruled in favour of the Catalan club in January, the court has now overturned Gavi’s registration with La Liga claiming that the Spanish league leaders ‘missed a deadline to file their case’. Barcelona have disputed that stance are are preparing an appeal.
The Times are reporting that Manchester City and Liverpool are monitoring developments closely. Liverpool have previously registered an interest in the teenager and are assessing midfield targets ahead of the summer.
Should Gavi’s senior registration not be approved, he could become available on a free transfer in a scenario that would have leading clubs across Europe scrambling for his signature.
