Barcelona could be set to earn an impressive €24 million if Porto decides to sell Nico Gonzalez to Liverpool, with the midfielder enjoying a successful spell in Portugal following his departure from the Catalan club, reports SPORT.
It is no secret that Nico struggled to find his place in Barcelona’s squad, but he has thrived at Porto, becoming one of the standout players in the Portuguese league.
And now, his potential move could be one of the major deals of the upcoming winter transfer market.
It is said that Liverpool are interested in signing a midfielder and, having initially targeted Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, they have turned their attention to Nico due to the Spanish club’s refusal to let Zubimendi go.
Porto are standing in Barcelona’s way
Interestingly, though, Porto are not currently open to negotiations, but with a release clause set at €60 million, it is within reach for Premier League clubs like Liverpool.
Nico Gonzalez is on Liverpool’s radar. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
The move could happen either in the January transfer window or in the summer, as the clause is still valid.
Barcelona sold Nico to Porto in 2023 for around €9 million but retained a buy-back option of €30 million, which remains available until 2025.
What makes this situation particularly lucrative for Barcelona is that they also have a 40% stake in any future transfer involving the player. If Liverpool move forward with the deal, Barcelona stand to make €24 million from their share of the transfer.
Meanwhile, other Premier League clubs, including Arsenal and Aston Villa, are keeping an eye on Nico’s progress, and it is widely believed in Portugal that he will leave Porto in 2025 if not before.
Barcelona are closely monitoring the situation, and former player Deco, now working as an advisor, is well-informed about the developments.
This potential windfall would be a significant boost for Barcelona, helping to improve their squad’s salary cap and furthering their long-term financial strategy.