Spurs and Nice in hunt for Barca teenage centre-back sensation

Barcelona could look to cash in on centre-back sensation Mika Faye this summer with Tottenham and Nice named among his most recent suitors in a report in Spain.

Faye, 19, was signed by Barcelona’s B team – Barcelona Atletic – last summer for around €2.2 million from Croatian third-tier side Kustosija and has impressed for Rafael Marquez’s side in the Spanish third division this term.

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That crowns a remarkable first year in Catalonia for the Senegal youth international, who has already sat on the bench for Xavi’s first team and toured the USA with the Cules last summer.

Faye was named among the substitutes for Barca in their LaLiga match against Mallorca earlier this month but did not see any action.

Barcelona will sell stars this sumer amid financial crisis

Barcelona are currently overstocked at centre back and could look to move Faye on in order to generate extra transfer funds.

Club president Joan Laporta is out of financial levers to pull and will listen to offers for many of his side’s top stars this summer with Raphinha and Ferran Torres among those set for the exit.

A departure for Faye, contracted until 2027, would be a welcome boost for the cash-strapped Catalans.

His current deal includes a €400m buyout clause and it’s reported that Barca have not yet decided whether to include a buy-back option in any deal which takes him away from Camp Nou.

Barcelona well stocked at centre back

Pau Cubarsi has emerged as a first choice defender in recent weeks despite his tender age of 17, while Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensten, Inigo Martinez as well as loan returnees Eric Garcia and Clement Lenglet will all be on the books this summer.

That means there are seven players in the queue ahead of Faye and the teenager could well be sacrificed.

Also, the emergence of Cubarsi could push Barca into a big-money sale for Araujo.

Barca are reported to have turned down a €9m fee from French side Lens in the winter window for the left-sider but interest is likely to increase ahead of the summer transfer period.

Sport believes Spurs and Ligue 1’s Nice are in the race to sign him while Arsenal, Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund have previously been mentioned as interested parties.

The Diambars academy graduate could be set for a Senegal international debut in the next few days amid reports that he will be called up by Aliou Cisse for the upcoming friendlies against Gabon and Benin.