Barcelona preparing shock Jamal Musiala approach | OneFootball

Barcelona are reported to have serious interest in Bayern Munich attacker Jamal Musiala, with the hope of reuniting the rising superstar with Hansi Flick in Catalonia.

Musiala was handed his senior Bayern debut by Flick as a 17-year-old in 2020 and later also played under the coach at international level with Germany.

Barcelona are hoping re-establish themselves as a force in the transfer market once more, having returned to 1:1 spending rules after years of being hamstrung by financial mismanagement.

Another winger or inside forward to complement Lamine Yamal is a key aim and Musiala is described by SPORT as being a "very popular" choice within the club's sporting hierarchy. He is even claimed to have a pre-existing soft spot for Barcelona due to watching Lionel Messi while growing up.

Musiala has a contract with Bayern until 2026 and is thought to be in talks over a new deal with the Bundesliga giants. However, it has previously been reported that he is seeking a non-prohibitive release clause as part of that, potentially facilitating a future move.

Musiala wants control over his future / Christof Koepsel/GettyImages

A figure of €175m (£146m) has been quoted and is far short of the €222m world record. It is a similar amount to what Barcelona paid for Philippe Coutinho but ought to be looked at as a long-term investment, given the potential for 21-year-old Musiala to be a key player for a decade or more.

Manchester City have been heavily linked with the Germany international for similar reasons as part of their own rebuild project, which has already started in earnest.

SPORT adds that Barcelona would likely have no issue committing to a big transfer fee, thanks to a lucrative renewal of the club's partnership with Nike. But making sure that their wage bill remains affordable and under control would still be a concern.

In that respect, offloading high earners, like Frenkie de Jong, still carries importance, although club officials believe the Dutchman intends to see out his contract to continue collecting a pay packet. Leaving as a free agent could also land him a huge signing bonus from his next club.

Barcelona are threatening any player with a contract until 2026 who does not renew with the prospect of being forced to sit out next season.