Rumour Mongering: Liverpool Want Barcelona’s Spare Part?

The Spanish media are having a laugh again, this time offering up the unwanted Barcelona midfielder Aleix Vidal to Liverpool or Manchester United. Or possibly Everton or Manchester City. At this point the report presumably ran out of English teams they could name off the top of their heads.

The report, courtesy of Estadio Deportivo, claims that Barcelona would be willing to sell Vidal for a “modest” fee, whatever that is, as they look to trim the fat to accommodate some player they just signed.

Vidal, a 28-year-old midfielder who can play centrally or as a right winger, has failed to catch on at the Nou Camp since his 2015 €18 million move from Sevilla. This season Vidal has featured (when he has featured) predominantly off the bench, racking up a total of 411 minutes between his 10 La Liga appearnaces and 2 Champions League run outs. He has contributed a goal and an assist, both in La Liga.

This would be a real head-scratcher if Jurgen Klopp & Co. decided to go this direction (although there is little to indicate that they would). It would be a purchase with little upside, and one that would not come close to improving the starting XI, or likely even the matchday squad. Vidal would not fill a hole in the squad now or in the future.

But if Manchester United want him, be our guest.