Barcelona want to sign the new Declan Rice

Barcelona are ready to make a transfer bid for a young star who has been branded the new Declan Rice.

Morocco midfielder Neil El Anyaoui has impressed at AFCON to such a degree that the Roma star has attracted the attention of the Blaugrana, winning comparisons with Arsenal and England midfielder Rice in the process.

Signed for €23 million from Ligue 1 side Lens in the summer, the 24-year-old could soon be making a big step up.

Barcelona tracking El Aynaoui

Barcelona are said to be very attracted to the profile of El Aynaoui, with Hansi Flick’s side eager to add a physical and tactically intelligent player to their ranks, according to Fichajes.

The Morocco star is seen as a player who can enhance the team in the short team but also have a long-term impact at Camp Nou.

A deal, though, is set to prove complicated, not least because of the interest in several Premier League clubs. Roma, too, see the player as a key figure for their medium-term project, so if a deal is to be made, it will likely be for a figure well in excess of his €23m Estimated Transfer Value (ETV).

Barcelona’s financial problems are a further hurdle. The obstacles they still face mean that they have to be very selective about their transfer targets and they believe that it will take a “major operation” for this deal to be completed.

How similar to Rice is El Aynaoui?

Comparisons between El Aynaoui and Rice are flattering to the Morocco star, who does not get through anything like the volume of work the Englishman does for Arsenal.

Certainly, the pair share a similarity in that they like to play in a box-to-box manner and are very capable defensively. Allied to that, they are strong in possession, though Rice is a marginally more creative force.

This is highlighted when looking at the statistical profiles of the two players. Rice sees a good deal more of the ball and is generally far more incisive with his attacking play. He is also much more willing to carry the ball forward.

While there may be similarities between El Aynaoui and Rice, for the moment, the Roma man is still a Teemu version and Barcelona would be taking a gamble to spend big money on him.