Why Barcelona should take the plunge on Bayern’s Leon Goretzka

With Bayern Munich still yet to offer Leon Goretzka an extension to his current deal, is it the perfect time for Barcelona to act?

With no deal currently on the negotiating table from Bayern, manager Hansi Flick may try to convince the Barca board to bring his compatriot to the Nou Camp.

In this piece, we’ve put forward three reasons why it would be wise for Barcelona to make the move for Goretzka sooner rather than in the summer for free.

Leon Goretzka has won it all at Bayern

Goretzka has won a plethora of silverware across his current 13-year playing career at Bayern, Bochum, and Schalke. The German international’s current array of trophies, but is not limited to, a Champions League trophy, six Bundesliga titles, and two DFB-Pokals. 

It would be doing Goretzka a disservice not to include that he has won 15 trophies in total, all but two, with his current employers.

The other two honours came on international duty, lifting both the 2016/17 Confederations Cup and also being awarded the Golden Boot award with three goals.

He also looks on course to win his seventh Bundesliga title with Vincent Kompany’s side already nine points clear of second-placed Dortmund at the summit of the Bundesliga standings.

While Barcelona aren’t shy of winning their own respective silverware, considering they are current defending LaLiga champions, they haven’t lifted the Champions League since the 2014/15 campaign.

You don’t need to be telepathic to think that Barcelona manager Flick wants to win the trophy after a decade’s hiatus without it proudly sitting in the Nou Camp cabinet. Remarkably, Barca have failed to reach the final of the competition since celebrating that unforgettable night in 2015.

With over 400 competitive appearances across all competitions, including in the Champions League and Europa League, experience certainly isn’t going to be a problem when it comes to Goretzka. 

Is another option a good thing for Barcelona’s stacked midfield?

While Barcelona have some of the up-and-coming talents in world football, bringing the German to the club would certainly be a wise move, especially on a cut-price deal.

The Germans’ current reported asking price is just over £13million, but it could become nothing if Bayern allow the midfielder to join a plethora of potential free agents across European football this summer.

Bayern wouldn’t technically be losing any money, in terms of Goretzka’s transfer fee, after they got him on a free from Schalke in July 2018.

Taking an observation of Barcelona’s current central midfield options. At his disposal, Flick has Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Gavi and Marc Bernal to name a few. Out of all potential options, only de Jong is close to being anywhere near Goretzka’s current age of 30.

​In the experience department, Goretzka is a serial winner, but could also turn out to be an impending winner for Barcelona as well.

Versatility makes Goretzka an attractive signing

​A central midfielder by trade, Goretzka’s attractiveness to potential new employers is helped by operating additionally as a defensive midfielder or further up the field as a number 10. 

This versatility doesn’t end there, as he can also switch to either the right or left side in the middle of the pitch and can even play at centre-back. The fact that he can play in pretty much half of the possible positions across the pitch is bordering on ridiculousness.

Bayern’s loss could be Barcelona’s potential gain, with Goretzka proven to have scored goals from whatever position he has been asked to play. Understandably, his predominant position as a CM has returned his most profitable scoring return of 43 goals and a further 40 assists. However, he has found the back of the net 13 times as an attacking midfielder and even 11 as a defensive midfielder.

However, it’s plaudits to Goretzka for being willing to evolve his world-class game to these kinds of levels. That would certainly be a trait that Barcelona could be keen to allow to join the Blaugrana band.