Even injured, Jérémy Doku keeps the rating in Europe. Sports world announces that the twirling winger is in the sights of … FC Barcelona. Arrived just before the winter break, Xavi believes that the priority in his recruitment is on the wings. Philippe Coutinho is only a shadow of himself while Ousmane Dembele is subscribed to the infirmary. Ansu Fati is the only element to really give satisfaction on the sides in Catalonia. But the 18-year-old nugget was injured during Barça’s last meeting.
A fairly long list
Doku therefore caught the eye of the former Camp Nou icon. But he is not the only one. The Catalan daily announces that other options are being considered such as Dani Olmo (Leipzig), Ferran Torres (Manchester City) and Karim Adeyemi (Salzburg). The first two also played in the Euro this summer. With Spain, they made it to the semi-finals and have become sure values for La Roja. Above all, they can evolve in several positions and have a different profile than that of the player trained in the RSCA.
For his part, Adeyemi has exploded this season in Austria. In 22 meetings with his club Salzburg, he scored 15 goals in all competitions. But the German, recently called up with the Mannschaft, feels better when he is at the forefront.
“Several specialized websites place two other names on this list”, annonce Mundo Deportivo. “The first is Jérémy Doku, 19, who has already excelled at Anderlecht. He then signed for Rennes for 26 million euros last year”, he adds. For the site “Todofichajes”, the Belgian would be “The perfect alternative to Ousmane Dembélé if he decides to leave Barça.”
Problem: Doku is expensive. Very expensive. Rennes made a big financial effort last year and wants to make a big profit on the Devil. Suddenly, it is difficult to see FC Barcelona, in the grip of an unprecedented financial crisis, putting at least 50 bricks on the table. All the more for a player who, admittedly, has a lot of potential, but has yet to really prove anything at the high level.
The other player targeted is Victor Guimaraes. Unknown to the general public, this 23-year-old Brazilian also belongs to the planet Red Bull. He plays at RB Bragantino in his native country. This season, he has scored 18 goals and 15 assists in 53 games. Good statistics then. Above all, it has the advantage of not being as expensive as the Belgian. Valued at € 6million by Transfermarkt, it shouldn’t cost more than double. For AS, the winger had already said he was ready to take a step up. “My dream is to play at Camp Nou. Where my big idols from Brazil and big names in the football world have played. I have always wanted to play there and I will work to make it happen one day”, he said.
Objective number 1: regain your level
After a good Euro, nothing went as planned for Jérémy Doku. Injured in the abdominals then in the knee, he played only three small meetings in L1 this season. At 19, he therefore experienced the first stop of his young career. Since then, another player has exploded in Brittany: Kamaldeen Sulemana. Bought for 15 million euros, the Ghanaian has already totaled four goals and two assists in 13 L1 games. More than Doku over all of his last season.
Absent from the lawns since August 22, the devil has resumed training this week. Aligned on the left with Belgium in the quarter-final lost to Italy this summer, he could be associated with Sulemana on his right flank of choice. Role in which he had exploded with the RSCA.
