Ansu Fati 'wants to return to Barcelona next summer'

The 21-year-old left the Catalan outfit on loan in the latter stages of the recent transfer market, completing a move to Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion, and he has represented the club on 13 occasions this season, scoring four goals and registering one assist.

Fati, as it stands, will head back to Barcelona at the end of the campaign, and he has a contract with the La Liga champions until June 2027.

According to SPORT, the Spain international is desperate to reignite his career with the Catalan giants, and he could be given the opportunity to secure a role in the starting side next season.

However, the report claims that, due to the club's financial issues, any offers in excess of €30m (£26.3m) would be seriously considered by Xavi's side.

Fati has only just turned 21, but he has already made 112 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions, scoring 29 goals and registering 10 assists in the process.

The forward burst onto the scene in 2019, immediately becoming an important player for the club, but various injury problems have seen his career stall.

Fati missed 47 games for Barcelona between November 2020 and September 2021 due to a serious knee injury, and he has since been absent with two separate hamstring problems.

Earlier this year, the forward's father urged his son to leave Camp Nou, telling COPE: "If it was up to me, I would leave Barcelona tomorrow. I told Ansu that if the situation didn't change, we would have to leave, but he tells me that I'm wrong."

Barcelona sporting director Deco said last week that Fati can have a future at Barcelona when asked about his form at Brighton this term.

"Ansu can come back, of course. He's very young and he's happy now. He asked to go out on loan looking for minutes and decided on Brighton and I think he did well," he told RAC1.

"We're following him because Bojan, who is doing a great job, is watching him. The future depends on him. He can return to Barca, there is no doubt."

Fati has scored twice in eight Premier League appearances for the Seagulls this season, while he has netted twice and provided one assist in four Europa League outings.

Joao Felix is currently operating as the left-sided attacker for Barcelona, but the Portugal international is only on loan from Atletico Madrid, and a permanent move to the club next summer is far from certain due to the finances involved.