Premier League duo Liverpool and Aston Villa have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Alberto Moleiro with Las Palmas president Miguel Angel Ramirez admitting that talks with Barcelona have not progressed, speaking to Cadena Ser.
Liverpool supposedly have a ‘little Xavi’ in 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic. But could Jurgen Klopp get his mitts on the ‘new Pedri’ too?
Alberto Moleiro, like Barcelona’s number eight, rose through the ranks at Las Palmas and plays the game with a poise and maturity well beyond his years. That is not to say Moleiro and Pedri are two peas in a playmaking pod, however. The former is more attack-minded than the latter, thriving out wide at times during 2022/23.
He even has eight assists for a Las Palmas side now top of the Spanish second-tier table.
Aston Villa and Liverpool like Barcelona target Alberto Moleiro
According to Mundo Deportivo, Liverpool could face competition from perennial talent-spotters Borussia Dortmund, while Unai Emery’s Aston Villa have identified the silky Spain U21 international as one of their leading summer targets (The Athletic).
Barcelona have long been seen as the most likely destination for Moleiro. Pedri’s Barcelona. But, according to Ramirez, talks with the runaway La Liga leaders have stalled after a proposed summer switch to the Camp Nou broke down.
“In the summer, there was an agreement in principle. But then things could not be done,” says Ramirez. “I know that Barca like the player. He is in a shop window where big teams in European and Spanish football are keen.
“With Barcelona, after the summer, we haven’t spoken about Moleiro again. They told me they were going to follow him, but obviously we haven’t spoken about him again.”
Moleiro has a £25 million release clause in his contract. That price-tag will double, however, if Las Palmas secure a return to La Liga. And, with Barcelona’s well-documented financial problems ongoing, Ramirez doubts whether Xavi’s side would be willing to devote so much of their summer budget on one, as-yet unproven talent.
“You have to understand the economic situation they are going through. I think they have other priorities than Moleiro,” Ramirez adds.
“My last meeting was with the president himself (Joan Laporta). It was in the summer. We decided that, when Barca were clear and interested, we would talk again. But we have never spoken again.”
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