Barcelona have lost ground in the race for one of the Bundesliga’s promising forwards, with Fisnik Asllani expected to complete a move from Hoffenheim to RB Leipzig.
The 23-year-old is reportedly close to joining the German club, with a medical scheduled for Thursday before the transfer is formally announced. The expected move represents a setback for Barcelona as they look to strengthen their attack ahead of the new season.
According to Mundo Deportivo, citing several German media reports, Asllani is due to undergo his medical examination with RB Leipzig today. The deal is expected to be confirmed once the formal procedures have been completed.
Asllani was seen at a hotel in Salzburg on Wednesday, where he was waiting for the initial stages of the transfer to be finalised. The fee is understood to be between 25m euros and 30m euros, while the forward is expected to sign a five-year contract running until 2031.
The move is particularly notable because Asllani has previously expressed his support for Barcelona. Images of him as a child wearing a Barcelona shirt have also emerged publicly.
Unless there is an unexpected late development, however, Asllani will continue his career in the German league rather than move to Spain.
Barcelona’s interest in attacking reinforcements comes as their pursuit of Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez becomes increasingly complicated. The Catalan club are hoping to sign the 26-year-old Argentina international, but Atletico Madrid have shown no willingness to sell him.
Alvarez travelled to Madrid on Tuesday to meet his agent, Fernando Hidalgo. The next challenge for the player is to persuade Atletico Madrid to allow him to leave, with the Spanish club appearing determined to retain him.
That means Alvarez may need to take action himself if he is to have a realistic chance of joining Barcelona. The club’s difficulty in progressing that deal had increased the importance of identifying alternative attacking targets, including Asllani.
But with the Hoffenheim forward now seemingly on the brink of a transfer to RB Leipzig, Barcelona’s options have narrowed further. Asllani’s medical and the expected announcement will bring the deal close to completion, while his supporters at Barcelona are likely to see him remain in the Bundesliga.
For now, Barcelona’s search for attacking reinforcements is therefore being shaped by two setbacks: their complicated attempt to take Alvarez from Atletico Madrid and the imminent departure of Asllani to another German club.