Barcelona are reported to have been “offered” Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku on loan in the final days of the January transfer window.

A wide forward has been a key target for the Catalans since the summer, when they missed out on Euro 2024 breakout star Nico Williams over finances. Marcus Rashford has been heavily linked with the club in a similar capacity this month.

According to SPORT, Doku has become frustrated with his situation at Manchester City this season. Having initially impressed when he arrived from Rennes in 2023, the Belgian has not enjoyed as strong a second year with the club.

Doku has started just nine Premier League games past the halfway stage, while he has scored and/or assisted in only five appearances in the competition.

As a result, SPORT claims his representatives have started to offer the player out to potential suitors this winter. One of those clubs is Barcelona, with the proposal that he joins until the summer. The suggestion is that Barca appear interested but have made it clear they don’t have salary room.

Although the financial crisis that has shaped the last few years is drawing to a close after returning to 1:1 spending for next season, Barcelona still have to offload players if they want to recruit before the end of the winter window. Ansu Fati is reluctant to leave, with Eric Garcia set to stay. Ronald Araujo’s new long-term contract also rules out his sale. Andreas Christensen is available.

There is no mention in the reporting of City’s stance on Doku, if there is even a willingness to let him leave midway through the season. The club’s attitude to player exits over the past decade has tended to be that everyone is replaceable and they will not block someone who wants to leave. But the caveat that comes with that is it always has to be on their terms.

New signing Omar Marmoush started on the left in place of Doku against Chelsea on Saturday, with Jack Grealish the other option Pep Guardiola also has in that position.

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