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Barcelona locate a local alternative to Neymar from La Liga

By Atharva Khadilkar

PARIS, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 01: Neymar Jr of Paris Saint-Germain looks on during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier HSC at Parc des Princes on February 01, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 01: Neymar Jr of Paris Saint-Germain looks on during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier HSC at Parc des Princes on February 01, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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Barcelona are not in a financial state to break the bank for Neymar and have been forced into looking at cheaper alternatives for the winger.

Lautaro Martinez and Neymar are the two main agendas at the top offices in Barcelona going into the next season. Quique Setien has not made much of a difference as compared to Ernesto Valverde and the board seems to have realised that the players were indeed an issue and not the manager who was constantly being scrutinized.

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Football’s suspension due to the coronavirus means that a lot of clubs are losing out on massive revenues. One of the worst impacts of this has come on Barcelona, whose financial situation was anyways not how it should have been. It now seems pretty much beyond the Catalans to land both their desired targets, who will cost nearly 300 million euros in total.

Don Balon has reported that Lautaro Martinez continues to be the board’s primary objective, but they have now identified a cheaper alternative to Neymar in the shape of Spain international Mikel Oyarzabal. The Real Sociedad winger has been incredible since the last two or three season with this one bringing him more attention than ever.

The 23 year old has scored 10 goals and laid seven assists across all competitions this season and these numbers certainly provide for good reading in a team that usually finds itself benefiting from Martin Odegaard and Alexander Isak over others. With that said, Oyarzabal doesn’t excel as much with Sociedad who don’t allow their wingers to come compact.

Mikel Oyarzabal has also been a regular fixture in Spain’s national side and has the backing of Luis Enrique going into the postponed edition of the UEFA Euro, now to be held in 2021. The bright youngster has a release clause of 80 million euros, plus, the fact that he is four years younger and fitter than Neymar gives Barca more to take advantage of as opposed to the Brazilian.

Next. Messi approves Barca's much-needed sale of lucrative signing. dark

Do you think Mikel Oyarzabal can be as successful as Neymar at a bigger club like Barca?

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