Erik ten Hag has just been told why he should sign Gavi for Manchester United
Manchester United could capitalise on Barcelona's contract misfortunes to secure one of the best young talents in world football
It is rare in football that a player becomes available out of the blue.
Mostly, the speculation regarding a player's availability is talked up for months before the transfer window. However,
Manchester United, Barcelona and other top clubs have been caught off guard by the news that Gavi could be available on a free in the summer.
La Liga and Barca have been at loggerheads over Gavi since a new contract was agreed for the 18-year-old central midfielder in September. When the Spaniard signed the new deal, he was registered as an academy player with a clause stating that if he was not upgraded to a first-team player by the end of the season, he could leave on a free.
The club's manager Xavi attempted to do just that in January but La Liga blocked that approach as it would see
Barca being in breach of the salary limit rules. The Catalan giants turned to the courts for help and having been initially allowed to change Gavi's status, another court has since ruled in La Liga's favour.
All this means that potentially one of the world's greatest young prospects could be free for
United in the summer and not a moment too soon. Erik ten Hag is expected to want to address the midfield at the end of the season as youthful reinforcements are needed.
Gavi fits that bill excellently and with 25 appearances and Spanish national team call-ups to his name, he will be a player in demand. Should Ten Hag need more convincing though, Spain's new head coach Luis de la Fuente told the United manager exactly what he wanted to hear about the midfielder.
In the pre-match press conference before Spain's shock defeat to Scotland, De la Fuente said: "Gavi is a player with many resources, versatility, he feels more comfortable inside, but football can take you to other positions. He is a fantastic player, in the process of maturing and we have not yet seen the best version of what he will be in the future.
"In this process, one of his virtues is his courage and energy. He will acquire knowledge about behaviors that are not beneficial to him or the team.
"We have talked and he knows how important it is. Give me a Gavi before any other type of footballer. He is contagious to all teammates."
While being predominantly a central midfielder, Gavi has proven his new head coach right in regards to his versatility when he has featured on the left wing. At 18, Ten Hag would have the opportunity to mould Barca's young standout star into his own shape.
As we have seen so often with United's boss,
Ten Hag values the character of a player high. In Gavi,
the Reds have the opportunity to sign a player of the right character and potential which could transform the club.
