Desperate Barcelona eye shock move for Nottingham Forest flop

Tom Weber

• 21 Dec 2023 04:19 CST
• 3 min read

Barcelona have turned their attention to Andrey Santos in their search for a Gavi replacement.

The Blaugrana wonderkid went down with an ACL injury while on international duty with Spain in November, leaving Barcelona without one of their key players. The cash-strapped Catalans are unable to make major moves in January, however, meaning that they will be forced to go bargain-hunting in search of a replacement.

Head coach Xavi confirmed last month that president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco are scouring the market for midfield options. “I am in contact with the president and with Deco on a daily basis. We will announce what we deem appropriate."

"They know my position and I know theirs and from there, it is about finding a consensus. Evidently, we are losing a footballer for the whole season, and we will see what we can do and we will see if we can bring someone in.”

Now, fresh reports out of Spain claim that Barcelona have identified a player who is coming off a torrid spell at Nottingham Forest.

Barca eye Andrey Santos

According to Fichajes, Chelsea youngster Andrey Santos has appeared on the Blaugrana's radar as a potential January signing. The Brazilian wonderkid joined the Blues in the summer, having been signed earlier in the year, and immediately went on loan to Forest.

At the City Ground, however, he has thus far only played 97 minutes of football and it is expected that the Blues will recall the 19-year-old in January, though there is perhaps hope that his fortunes could change under new boss Nuno Espirito Santo. The struggling Premier League side recently sacked Steve Cooper, who admitted that Santos wasn't playing for the simple reason that he is not Forest's player.

The Spanish outlet claims that Deco "maintains a solid relationship with Santos' agent, Giuliano Bertolucci," having already attempted to lure the Brazilian to Catalunya in the summer. Though not a like-for-like Gavi replacement, Barcelona could kill two birds with one stone by signing Santos as he is a defensive midfielder, a position Xavi has been desperate to strengthen since the summer departure of Sergio Busquets.