Ansu Fati is set to leave Barcelona before the transfer window closes this week, with Brighton working on a loan deal for the Spanish striker, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Tottenham have also negotiated with Barca but they are also considering recruiting Brennan Johnson from Nottingham Forest.
Ansu Fati is open to a season-long loan in the Premier League, maintaining links with Barca but nothing has been finalized before Friday’s transfer deadline.
It marks a remarkable turnaround from Fati, who was previously reluctant to leave the Catalan club this summer despite pressure from other parties.
Barca, Jorge Mendes and his father all encouraged him to spend a year at another club so he could play football regularly.
Spurs and Chelsea have both been linked with Fati this week but Brighton, coached by Roberto De Zerbi, emerged as favorites to seal a deal on Wednesday.
Ansu Fati came on as a substitute in Barca’s first three games of the season but has struggled for a starting place in Xavi Hernandez’s squad since recovering from a number of long-term injuries ahead of the 2022-23 season.
After emerging as a 16-year-old in 2019, he missed almost two years from 2020 to 2022 due to multiple knee and hamstring problems.
He remained in good form last season, making 51 appearances, mostly as a substitute and scoring 10 goals, but was frustrated by his lack of playing time.
This led to his father, Bori, asking him to leave the club earlier this year and saying he was upset with the way Barca treated Fati, who inherited Lionel Messi’s number 10 shirt.
Ansu Fati is still under contract with Barca until 2027 with a release clause of 1 billion euros.
His possible departure, coupled with Clement Lenglet’s move to Aston Villa on loan, which ESPN sources say will be completed on Thursday.
Barca are waiting for enough space in La Liga’s spending cap to sign Manchester City right-back João Cancelo, while sources confirm they are also still interested in Atletico Madrid striker João Felix.
Speaking earlier this summer, Felix said he wanted to join Barca, who would sign the striker before Friday if Fati leaves after also losing Ousmane Dembele to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month.
