Barcelona president RESPONDS to €60m Onana transfer links

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has described Amadou Onana as a “very good player” amid reports that the Everton midfielder could move to Camp Nou this summer.

Onana, 22, has been a bright spot in a poor season for the Toffees but could nonetheless be sold this summer in order to ease the financial crisis at Goodison Park.

Sean Dyche’s side were hit with an initial 10-point penalty for breaching profit and sustainability rules, later reduced to six points, but are facing further charges.

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An adverse outcome in that investigation could spell relegation for Everton and lead to them cashing in on their most bankable assets.

Onana, and central defender Jarrard Branthwaite, would likely be sacrificed but the Merseysiders don’t intend to sell cheaply.

Indeed it has been suggested that Belgium international Onana could command a fee of €60 million and that is a sum Barcelona appear unable to pay.

Barca unlikely to afford Onana

It has been suggested in recent days that Barca could offer Fermin Lopez, Ansu Fati, Clement Lenglet and Sergino Dest as possible makeweights in any deal for the midfielder.

In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, the Barcelona president admits the former Lille man is one of a number of players Barca are tracking in his position but that they might not necessarily sign him.

He defers to sporting director Deco in transfer matters with Barca’s hands largely tied due to financial restrictions.

“Yes, [I know him], from Everton,” he said. You’re talking about very good players, this one we would like and there are others.

“It’s not just this one, there are good players that can do that job, but at the moment that’s not what Deco is working on and it’s not my responsibility, it’s not my area of action or activity.

“I have the responsibility of deciding yes or no, but we are guided by the knowledge and opinion of Deco. There are several players in that position.”

Any stalling from the Catalans is likely to open the door to Manchester United. The Old Trafford club are looking to tie up a double deal involving Onana and Branthwaite.

Arsenal, too, have been linked with the man signed by Everton for €35m and his agent revealed last month that he had turned down the opportunity to leave his current club in January.