Barcelona president Joan Laporta has said that the club are “very close to reaching an agreement” with Gavi over a new long-term contract at Camp Nou.
The 17-year-old featured on 47 occasions in all competitions at club level during the 2021-22 campaign, contributing two goals and six assists in the process.
Gavi’s contract with the Catalan outfit is due to expire next June, though, and there has been a host of speculation surrounding his future over the last few months.
Barcelona have allegedly been struggling to meet the teenager’s wage demands, with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool all said to be prepared to pay him big money to move to England.
However, after fresh talks with the youngster’s agent Ivan de la Pena, Laporta has said that the Catalan giants are now “very close” to making an announcement on a new deal.
“We’re optimistic because we want Gavi to stay at Barcelona,” Marca quotes Laporta as saying. “We are very excited about him staying, he’s from our academy.
“The player and his agent, who we know, also want to stay at Barcelona. We are very close to reaching an agreement.”
Gavi, who became Spain’s youngest ever player last October, is thought to be on the verge of penning a contract until June 2027, which would include a substantial release clause.
The midfielder scored twice and provided six assists in 34 La Liga appearances during the 2021-22 campaign, in addition to featuring on 11 occasions in the Champions League and Europa League.
Injury problems for Pedri opened the door for Gavi to become a key player last term, and he is now expected to extend his stay with the club that he joined at the age of 11.
However, Laporta has admitted that Barcelona are yet to hear whether Ousmane Dembele will be signing a new contract at Camp Nou.
The France international’s current agreement with the Catalan outfit is due to expire at the end of June, and there remains an offer on the table for the World Cup winner.
“Dembele has an offer to stay, but we have no news that he’s accepted it. We haven’t had a reply from him,” said Laporta when asked for an update on the 25-year-old.
Dembele made 32 appearances for Barcelona during the 2021-22 campaign, scoring twice and providing 13 assists in all competitions, having worked his way back into the side in the second half of the season after being told to leave the club in January.
The attacker’s agent Moussa Sissoko recently said that his client’s future “remains open” amid suggestions that Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are competing to sign him on a free transfer this summer.
The former Rennes youngster has made 150 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions, contributing 32 goals and 34 assists in the process.
