Journalist Ferran Martinez has revealed that Barcelona are looking at Morocco World Cup star Azzedine Ounahi with interest.
The 22-year-old has been a standout performer for his country as they upset Spain and Portugal to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.
The Angers midfielder, who is valued at €20m (£17.2m) by the CIES Football Observatory, is reportedly on Barcelona’s radar as a low-cost alternative to their other midfield targets.
His performances in Qatar will have raised his profile and value, but he would still be significantly cheaper than the likes of Bernardo Silva, who the club have had interest in for some time.
Writing in the Spanish press, Martinez claimed that the breakout star, who was praised by Luis Enrique after his performance against Spain, is an interesting proposition for the Blaugrana.
He said: “Ounahi is liked a lot at Barça, ‘the 8 of Morocco’ also surprises, which captivated Luis Enrique,” Martinez tweeted.
“Given the restrictions of LaLiga, they see it as a very interesting low-cost option and they will probe its incorporation without going into auctions.
“The player will have a lot to say after the World Cup.”
TIF Thoughts on Barcelona and Ounahi…
Given his age and the potential low cost, this is definitely a deal worth exploring for Barcelona.
His versatility means he can play in a midfield pivot as well as more advanced, and he astonishingly ranks in the top 1% of midfielders in the top European competitions for dribbles completed, as per FBref.
His silky style was enough to impress Luis Enrique after he helped knock Spain out of the World Cup, so this would be a low-risk deal with a potentially huge reward if he can maintain this level of performance back in club football.
Ounahi will rightfully be on the radar of some top clubs after his performances on the biggest stage, and if a deal happens, we believe he will have fully earned his opportunity to shine at a European giant.