The Premier League midfielder Barca see as an ideal Busquets replacement

Stuart Telford

• 8 Apr 2023 19:38 BST
• 3 min read

Barcelona are preparing for life after Sergio Busquets, and one Premier League midfielder in particular has caught their attentions according to reports in Spain.

Busquets looks increasingly likely to bring the curtain down on 15 glittering seasons as part of Barca's first team at the end of the current campaign.

A winner of eight La Ligas and three Champions Leagues in his time with the club, Busquets is out of contract at the end of the campaign - right when Barca might need him to be.

READ: Barcelona STOP contract negotiations with World Cup winner

Only Frenkie de Jong earns more than Busquets' €37 million before tax in the Catalan capital, and La Liga have told Barca that they need to reduce their debt by €200m in order to take part in a competition they currently lead next season.

Busquets is understood to have a big-money offer from Saudi Arabia on the table, whilst David Beckham's Inter Miami are also interested in his services.

Barca have been linked with Ruben Neves, although the Wolves captain would be prohibitively expensive, while Ilkay Gundogan's free transfer arrival from Manchester City is a done deal according to some reports in Spain.

READ: Man Utd overtake Arsenal to battle Dortmund for Tielemans

Top target Tielemans

But it is Leicester's Youri Tielemans who is top of Xavi's shopping list if he needs to replace his old friend and teammate.

"The player has been in Barca's sights for some time, but resisted [their advances] in the past to the point thought he must have agreed terms with someone else," report Marca.

"In any case, he is followed closely. [Tielemans] is considered at good option at defensive midfield, a position that would be freed up if Sergio Busquets finally decides to leave."

Exactly why Tielemans spurned Barca's advances before wasn't disclosed, although Premier League leaders Arsenal have also been credited with an interest in the Belgian who is rated at €50.4m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, but available for nothing in July.