Barcelona director Mateu Alemany confirms Gavi will sign new contract

The 17-year-old's future has been the subject of much speculation in recent months, with his current deal with the Catalan giants due to expire next June.

A number of clubs, including Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City, are said to be keeping a close eye on the situation, with the midfielder making the breakthrough at Barcelona last term.

However, Barcelona president Joan Laporta recently said that the club were closing in on an agreement with the teenager, who became Spain's youngest ever player last October.

"Gavi is doing very well. We are very satisfied with how everything has developed with Ivan de la Pena and with the player," Mundo Deportivo quoted Laporta as saying.

Meanwhile, when questioned on the situation last month, Laporta told Marca: "We're optimistic because we want Gavi to stay at Barcelona. We are very excited about him staying, he's from our academy.

"The player and his agent, who we know, also want to stay at Barcelona. We are very close to reaching an agreement."

Alemany has now said that the youngster will '100% remain at the club', with a new contract likely to be made official on August 5, when he turns 18.

"There is an outline of an agreement. We are highly committed to sorting out this situation. He is 17 years of age and we are waiting until he turns 18 on 5 August so he can sign a contract longer than three years," Alemany told reporters.

"We have small details to close out but we will get it resolved. 100% Gavi will continue at Barca."

The negotiations have not been straightforward, though, with Laporta admitting in May that the club were frustrated with the stop-start discussions.

"His agent has had the renewal offer on the table for a long time," Laporta told L'Esportiu. "We don't have any news they have accepted it. The news that we do have is that they are comparing and at some time will say something. We have said our position and for now, it's not been accepted.

"Yes (hurt by the actions of Gavi's agent), because we don't understand it. Gavi is a player that we all like, he has a present and a magnificent future at Barcelona.

"Within the salary levels, it's more than acceptable. (But) we will not go out of these levels, because I don't want Barca to continue in the line that those before us were on that has taken Barca to ruin.

"If we have players that come out of the academy, we make them an offer of a present and a very good future, and if the agent is comparing and delaying the decision, it's understandable that I don't like the situation."

The midfielder was a key player for Barcelona last season, making 46 appearances in all competitions, contributing two goals and six assists in the process.