Barcelona boss Xavi eyes shock transfer raid on old club Al Sadd for Baghdad Bounedjah who scored 126 goals in 108 games
BARCELONA boss Xavi appears to be in the market for yet another one of his former team-mates – this time Al Sadd goal-machine Baghdad Bounedjah.
Spanish website Fichajes report Xavi has told the Nou Camp hierarchy the Algeria star would be the ideal reinforcement for his injury-blighted attack.
Bounedjah has 126 goals in just 108 league appearances – more than a goal per game for the Qatari champions – along with 22 in 46 appearances for his country.
The 29-year-old star top-scored as Al Sadd won the division last season under Xavi with 21 in 19 games and already has 11 in nine this campaign.
In total he has an incredible 178 goals in 171 games since joining from Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel in 2016.
Fichajes' report says Xavi's call to sign him is a 'surprise' to the Catalans' bosses given the gulf in quality between Qatar Stars League and LaLiga.
But it points out that with Barca's main man Sergio Aguero sidelined with a heart condition for at least the rest of 2021, Bounedjah 'could be an important piece in Xavi's plans'.
With forwards Ousmane Dembele, Martin Braithwaite, and Ansu Fati all currently sidelined through injury, Xavi's options up front at the moment are severely limited.
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The report adds it would take a relatively low bid of more than £5million to tempt Al Sadd to sell, which might be another compelling factor for the financially-stricken Spanish giants.
Xavi also already shown he is not afraid to call on old friends to bolster his new squad since his appointment as the club's new boss earlier this month.
Barca icon Dani Alvez has returned as a free agent and has agreed to play for them for just ONE EURO PER MONTH.
And last week Xavi was reported to be interested in bringing Liverpool midfielder Thiago back to the Nou Camp.
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