Barcelona set sights on Feyenoord promising star Mats Wieffer to solve defensive midfielder woes

Barcelona have turned their attention towards Feyenoord’s highly-rated youngster Mats Wieffer in a bid to solve their holding midfielder woes, as per Diario Sport.

The Catalan giants recruited Oriol Romeu in the summer as an inexpensive replacement for legendary figure Sergio Busquets owing to their financial crisis.

The move seemed to have paid off after Romeu quickly established himself as a key cog in Xavi’s line-up, delivering a string of consistent displays.

However, the 32-year-old has witnessed a notable dip in his performances lately, leading to doubts over his ability and whether he could be reliable in the long run.

Adding to the woes, injuries to Frenkie de Jong and Pedri have made Barca’s midfield soulless, which, in turn, has impacted the club’s performances in recent weeks.

There have been reports that Romeu could leave the Blaugrana as early as January, and a new midfielder will be prioritised in the transfer wishlist.

The La Liga champions have compiled a list of potential targets, and among them is the Dutch youngster Wieffer.

Wieffer has made a stunning impact in his debut season at Feyenoord, leading them to the Eredivisie title last term.

The 24-year-old clocked up 37 appearances across all competitions, managing three goals and seven assists as well as helping his side reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

Wieffer has gained more attention this season following his impressive performances in the Champions League, including in the victories against Lazio and Celtic.

Barca also have Arthur Vermeeren and Gabriel Moscardo on their radar, however, they value Wieffer’s experience a lot.

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The Dutch international can also play as a central midfielder and boasts eye-catching attacking, playmaking and defensive numbers.

Above all, his asking price is believed to be within Barca’s reach, which comes as a huge boost amid their economic woes.

The Catalan giants are expected to face competition from Liverpool for Wieffer, who is considered the future of the Dutch national team.