Karim Adeyemi has been scoring goals for fun at RB Salzburg this season. Image shows Karim Adeyemi RBS. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxAUTxSUIxSWE GEPAxpictures/xMathiasxMandl
According to transfer news on Sky Sports Austria (h/t ESPN), Barcelona are lining up a €40million bid for RB Salzburg star Karim Adeyemi. The German centre-forward has continued his fine goal-scoring form this season after a terrific 2020/21 campaign.
Adeyemi is a Bayern Munich youth academy product but moved away at a young age. After several moves, RB Salzburg signed him in 2018. However, he still had some developing to do. And after a one-and-a-half-year loan move at 2nd division Austrian side FC Liefering, he started firing on all cylinders for the Red Bull side.
Could the striker now leave Austria? And is he the right man to lead the line under Xavi?
Since playing for the senior side, Adeyemi has banged in 25 goals and provided 17 assists in 75 appearances for Salzburg. His main contributions have come this season, as he has scored 15 goals and provided 2 assists in 26 games. These performances have ensured that the club is top of the Austrian Bundesliga at the moment.
However, Barcelona are now trying to land the striker. The Nou Camp outfit have been awful this season as they are currently 7th in La Liga and are yet to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League. Ronald Koeman was also sacked due to the dire performances. These are the expected after-effects of Lionel Messi leaving in the summer.
The Blaugrana legend often dug his boyhood club out of holes but his departure, and the exit of Antoine Griezmann, has hurt the club severely. But Xavi now has to do his best to rebuild the club and take them back to their glory days. They do still possess Memphis Depay, Ousmane Dembele, Ansu Fati, and several other talented members in the attack.
Their needs might be more severe than signing a 19-year-old striker from Salzburg. The German is a fine talent and could explode in the coming years, but putting this kind of pressure on such young shoulders is not going to bode well for any party in this deal. He is yet to play in one of Europe’s top 5 leagues, let alone adjust to life in La Liga.
The Spanish outfit would be better off targeting someone far more proven and experienced but relatively young at the same time. Adeyemi could be signed once he has proven his talent in a more challenging league. But for now, Barcelona would be wise to change their transfer targets.
The German international has apparently already made his mind up about his next move, and it is not the 5-time European champions. The young German star wants to follow the same path as his predecessor at Salzburg in Erling Haaland, and join Borussia Dortmund, once the Norwegian leaves.
This puts Xavi in a great fix because it would be hard to change the player’s stance. Moreover, finances are an issue for the Nou Camp outfit, and it does not make sense to offer such a big sum for a player that is yet to establish himself on the world stage. The Spanish club needs to invest their money much more smartly.
Their need for an attacker is understandable since Dembele could leave on a free transfer in the summer, according to Calciomercato (h/t ESPN). Luuk de Jong shall also return to Sevilla at the end of his loan move. Sergio Aguero is also set to depart the club after suffering heart issues, according to Sport (h/t The Mirror).
They do need a forward, but Xavi needs to find a striker that fits his ideologies and will safeguard their present and the future. Whether Adeyemi can be that player remains to be seen. But Barcelona would be better off pursuing a similar strategy as they did this summer when they signed Aguero and Memphis Depay on a free while getting in De Jong on loan.