Barcelona has identified the full-back positions as one of the primary weaknesses in their team, and it seems that the director of Football Deco is admired to tackle this summer, albeit chained by the salary limit. One of the names they follow is also on a number of Premier League shorts.
Espanyol right back Omar El Hilali only came to the team in Segunda last year, but did not miss a beat with the step to La Liga and has kept themselves against some of the best wing players in Spain. According to Sport, Barcelona pays a lot of attention to the progress of El Hilali and can be interested in a movement for the 21-year-old, who is already a complete international with Morocco.
El Hilali has a release clause of € 25 million, although as Los Pericos a relegation should suffer, that figure will fall to € 15 million in the summer. Earlier in the season, El Hilali was linked to Aston Villa, Manchester City and Brighton, although Unai Emery's side seems unlikely to move to El Hilali after signing Andres Garcia in January. This season, El Hilali has started one after one of their 25 LA Liga matches and registers two assists.
El Hilali has revealed that he previously rejected offers from Manchester United and Barcelona in his career, with the Blaugrana who tried to poach him as a young person. As is the case with their interest in Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, a deal looks difficult because of the rivalry between the two. Espanyol would probably demand the full release clause from El Hilali from Barcelona from Barcelona and place an obstacle in the way of a movement, while they would probably make reimbursements for another club if it was a choice between sales to their city rivals or anyone else.
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