Barcelona are ready to confirm the signing of Oriol Romeu from Girona, and young midfielder Pablo Torre is set to be included in the deal, with Torre leaving on a one-year loan.
Xavi has been keen to add an experienced defensive midfielder to his squad following the departure of Sergio Busquets, and Romeu has been identified as the best available option this summer.
The 31-year-old was a graduate of the La Masia academy but moved to the Premier League rather than succeeding at Barcelona. After spells at Chelsea, Southampton and Girona, the Spaniard is finally set to play for the Blaugrana.
Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Barcelona have agreed on a deal, which will see them send young starlet Pablo Torre on loan in the other direction, which has helped lower the price of the midfielder.
Is Romeu a good signing for Barcelona?
Romeu will arrive with plenty of La Liga experience under his belt, and can slot straight into the base of midfield to provide support for Ilkay Gundogan and Pedri.
The Spaniard is strong defensively, whilst also possessing good passing technique and vision. This could be an ideal fit to replace Busquets, as he can bring physicality to the midfield without sacrificing ability on the ball.
He may be seen as a short-term signing, and Torre may gain vital experience out on loan before eventually joining the Barcelona first team. Given the finances involved, Romeu could be a very astute addition to the squad, and given his previous allegiance with the club, it is one that made perfect sense on paper.
In the long-term, Barcelona may look at a younger profile or a bigger name, or even make Frenkie De Jong adapt to the number six role, but Romeu can help Xavi’s side transition away from Busquets for the next few seasons.