Xavi demands Barcelona move for Girona midfielder Oriol Romeu

Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has instructed the club to move for Girona midfielder Oriol Romeu, according to Mundo Deportivo.

The Blaugranas are ramping up their search for a long-term replacement for Sergio Busquets, who is expected to leave Spotify Camp Nou this summer.

However, the La Liga champions have seen their attempts frustrated at every turn, with several of their top targets proving too expensive or unavailable thus far.

Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi was the first name touted for a move to Camp Nou, but the 24-year-old has a €60 million release clause in his contract.

La Real are under no pressure to sanction a sale with Zubimendi’s contract set to run until 2027, and they are insistent that the player will only leave if his clause is triggered.

Unable to fork out that amount of money due to financial restrictions, Barca switched their attention to Bayern Munich’s unsettled star Joshua Kimmich.

However, the reluctance of the Bundesliga Champions to part ways with Kimmich, coupled with his valuation, have hampered Barca’s desire to lure the German international to Camp Nou this summer.

Marcelo Brozovic and Sofyan Amrabat are other high-profile names linked with a switch to Barca.

But the Croatian midfielder is currently in talks to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, while the Fiorentina man is in advanced talks with Atletico Madrid.

Barca do not have many options left, and Xavi wants a replacement for Busquets – however temporary – in place before the squad returns for pre-season on July 10.

Romeu has emerged as an unlikely candidate to fill the role, and Xavi has informed his bosses at Barca to snap him up – although the Spanish manager sees the 31-year-old as a stop-gap solution.

Barca have already opened talks to sign the former Southampton man who came up through their youth system. They could table a formal offer in the coming days.