Newcastle United owner Mohammed Bin Salman plots ambitious swap deal to sign 28-year-old Barcelona star: Reports

Joan Laporta has been Barcelona
Joan Laporta has been Barcelona's president since March 2021.

Newcastle United owner Mohammed Bin Salman has reportedly added Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen to the Premier League club's summer shopping list.

Christensen, 28, has established himself as a vital first-team starter for the Catalan outfit since arriving on a Bosman move in 2022. He has started 65 of his 74 overall appearances for them, scoring four times.

Now, according to Spanish news website El Nacional, Bin Salman is aiming to help Magpies manager Eddie Howe by bringing in a new centre-back this summer. The Premier League club, as a result, have earmarked Christensen as a transfer target ahead of the next term.

Newcastle, who finished seventh in the Premier League standings last season, are keen to offer Harvey Barnes to Barcelona to acquire Christensen's signature. They are unlikely to succeed with the aforesaid player-plus-cash move as the Blaugrana sporting director Deco is interested in earning €35 million from the former Chelsea star's sale.

Christensen, whose current deal is set to expire in June 2026, is reportedly aiming to leave Barcelona following former manager Xavi Hernandez's departure. The 74-cap Denmark international could push for a transfer to the Magpies in the summer transfer window soon.

Andres Iniesta wants Barcelona to sign 22-year-old attacker ahead of next campaign

Barcelona great Andres Iniesta has claimed that Athletic Club Nico Williams would prove to be a brilliant signing for his former club should the Spaniard join them. He said (h/t Yahoo! Sports):

"The level they are showing with the national team [is impressive]. We talk about Nico or Lamine [Yamal] but we can talk about Fabian [Ruiz], Rodri, Dani Olmo... anyone. Nico Williams also had a fantastic season at his club, it is a name that surely sounds for the big teams. It is undeniable that the signing of Nico Williams would add another level to Barcelona but let's see what happens."

Williams, 22, helped his club seal a fifth-placed finish in the 2023-24 La Liga table. He found the back of the opposition net eight times and registered 19 assists in 37 matches across competitions last season.

Asked to opine on new Blaugrana manager Hansi Flick, Iniesta replied:

"Barça enter another situation with a new coach, from the outside, another way of seeing different situations. I would have loved if Xavi had continued for what he represents to me on a personal and professional level. I hope Flick has the strength, the tranquillity and the tools so that Barça can qualify for all the titles. As a Barça fan and as a culé, I hope we can have stability for a long time."

Flick, who penned a two-year deal earlier this May, is a former Bayern Munich and Germany manager. He has lifted seven trophies in his managerial career, including a famed treble in the 2019-20 season.

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Edited by Debkalpa Banerjee
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