Barcelona will reportedly look to sign 26-year-old Leeds United midfielder Marc Roca to replace Sergio Busquets this summer.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Marc Roca is the subject of interest from Barcelona. The Catalan giants view the 26-year-old Leeds United midfielder as a possible replacement for Sergio Busquets. Relegated from the Premier League, he will be a low-cost solution to bolster the midfield unit.
Marc Roca has struggled to find a stable footing since leaving Espanyol nearly three years ago. The Spaniard was one of the best midfielders in La Liga during his stint with his boyhood club. But he failed to make his mark during a two-year spell at Bayern Munich. And he moved to England in search of regular game time last summer.
The 26-year-old was a regular for Leeds United in the 2022/23 season. He turned out 36 times across all competitions, chipping in with one goal and two assists. But Roca could not prevent the Whites from suffering relegation from the Premier League. So the player might be on the move again this summer, with Barcelona emerging as a destination.
Barcelona will head into the summer transfer window searching for a long-term successor to Sergio Busquets. The veteran midfielder has called time on his stint with the Blaugrana and will likely spend his final years as a professional footballer in Saudi Arabia. So Barcelona will need to invest in a midfielder in the coming weeks.
Recent reports have linked Barcelona with several midfielders, including Sofyan Amrabat. But their financial struggles mean they might not be able to afford many of their top targets. In addition, Manchester United and other high-profile clubs will compete with Barcelona for Amrabat’s services.
So the Catalan giants need to scour the market for possible low-cost solutions to their midfield woes. And Marc Roca has emerged as a viable target for the newly-crowned La Liga champions. While the report does not mention a price tag, Leeds’s relegation from the Premier League has reduced their bargaining power.
But Roca might be a controversial signing, considering his links with Espanyol. After spending most of his career with Barcelona’s bitter local rivals, the 26-year-old might ruffle a few feathers if he joins Barcelona. But the opportunity to play in the UEFA Champions League might be too hard to turn down.
