It was reported on Barca TV earlier today by FC Barcelona President Sandro Rosell that the club are planning to bring PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Afellay to the Camp Nou. Rosell was quoted as saying, "We're negotiating with Afellay. The coaches have requested him."
This is exciting news for Barca fans as the squad is seemingly thin this year with just 17 first team players. Pep Guardiola seems comfortable bringing up reserve players when needed but clearly Barca are looking for more class in the midfield. Perhaps Afellay will arrive in January to provide depth over the second half of the season as the fixtures become frequent and the first team players need a rest.
Afelley's contract at PSV will be up at the end of this season so it's little surprise the Dutch club are willing to negotiate a price.
How do you see Afellay fitting in at Barcelona? I see him as a very attacking type player and may allow Pep to rest Xavi so that he stays fresh deep into the campaign. Ultimately, Afellay could be a potential replacement for Xavi, along with Thiago Alcantara and others. I think this is a great move for Barca and hope to see this dead become official very soon.