SPORT Barcelona have been linked with Carlos Soler this summer.
Soler is not the cheapest of players out there. Transfermarkt puts his value at €50m. Still, here's why Barca may be pushing to get the midfielder.
• Barca profile:
Soler has been showing his skill and technique for Valencia for the last three seasons now. His superb passing (90% accuracy per game), makes him a player who can fit in at Barca like a glove.
Soler has also proved he's a good dribbler who barely loses the ball. He completes 1.2 of his dribbles per game and loses possession an average of 5 times per 90 minutes.
• Eye for goal:
Barcelona's central midfielders have not been scoring goals aplenty for the last two seasons.
Pedri remains Barca's topscorer from midfield with 5 goals in 22 games. The teenager is nowhere near Soler, who has scored 12 goals for Los Che in just 32 games.
• Replacement:
Riqui Puig and Sergi Roberto are expected to leave the club this summer, due to a lack of playing time and salary demands respectively.
If that happens, Barca would have a gap to fill in their midfield. We bet 25-year-old Soler can do the job well.