# Barcelona to Pay £16.7m to Sign Yannick Carrasco from Atletico Madrid This Summer

Key Highlights :

1. Barcelona are believed to have agreed a purchase option on Belgian international Memphis Depay during the discussions that took him to Wanda Metropolitano in January.

2. Earlier this year, SPORT reported that a deal for Carrasco had already been done, with the versatile winger set to arrive at Camp Nou during this summer's transfer window. However, there is yet to be an agreement between the two sides over a price, and Barcelona are allegedly finding it difficult to negotiate with Diego Simeone's side.

3. According to AS , Xavi's team were hoping to include Ferran Torres in a swap deal for Carrasco, with the La Liga leaders not prepared to pay €19m (£16.7m) to sign him. However, the report claims that Torres is not interested in a move to Wanda Metropolitano, while Simeone's team also do not view the Spaniard as a genuine target.

4. Atletico are now said to be open to keeping hold of the Belgian unless their asking price is met, as his current deal with the Red and Whites is due to expire in the summer of 2024.

5. A number of Premier League clubs are also believed to be keeping a close eye on the developments surrounding a player who started his professional career with Monaco.

     Barcelona are believed to have agreed a purchase option on Belgium international Yannick Carrasco during the discussions that took Memphis Depay to Wanda Metropolitano in January. According to reports, the Catalan outfit are now looking to sign the versatile winger this summer, but they will have to come up with a fee of £16.7m to do so.

     Earlier this year, SPORT reported that a deal for Carrasco had already been done and the player was set to arrive at Camp Nou during the upcoming transfer window. However, negotiations between the two sides have yet to reach an agreement over the fee, with Barcelona finding it difficult to negotiate with Atletico Madrid.

     According to AS, Xavi's team were hoping to include Ferran Torres in a swap deal for Carrasco, but the La Liga leaders were not prepared to accept the offer. Furthermore, Torres himself is not interested in a move to Wanda Metropolitano and Simeone's team also do not view him as a genuine target.

     Atletico are now said to be open to keeping hold of the Belgian unless Barcelona agree to pay the asking price of €19m (£16.7m). Carrasco's current contract with the Red and Whites is due to expire in the summer of 2024, meaning they could still get a fee for him if he leaves this summer.

     A number of Premier League clubs are also believed to be keeping a close eye on the developments surrounding Carrasco, who started his professional career with Monaco. The attacker initially represented Atletico between 2015 and 2018 before moving to Chinese outfit Dalian Professional. He then returned to the Red and Whites on loan in January 2020 before completing a permanent switch back to the club in September of the same year.

     In total, Carrasco has represented Atletico on 259 occasions in all competitions, scoring 45 goals and contributing 44 assists in the process. This season, he has been a regular for Simeone's side, featuring on 40 occasions in all competitions, scoring eight goals and registering five assists.

     Barcelona's interest in the Belgian is reportedly due to his ability to play both as a wing-back and an attacker. The Catalan outfit are said to be willing to let Jordi Alba leave this summer, making Carrasco an attractive proposition. The player has five goals and three assists in 31 La Liga appearances this season, while he scored once and provided two assists in six outings in the group stage of the Champions League.

     It remains to be seen whether Barcelona will be able to negotiate a deal with Atletico Madrid for Carrasco this summer, but it is clear that they will have to come up with a fee of £16.7m if they are to secure his signature.

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