Barça striker Rey Manaj edging closer to Mallorca move before deadline

Rey Manaj's Barcelona exit is starting to take shape. The striker has chosen to join Mallorca on loan with an option to buy in search of the minutes he won't get at Camp Nou.

Ronald Koeman was clear in his press conference on Saturday that he has too many players in his squad ahead of Sunday's game against Getafe in LaLiga.

However, Mallorca must first move on Aleksandar Trajkovski to be able to take on the signing of Manaj. If they manage that, the signing of the Albanian forward should be completed before the window closes. That might not be all, either, with Mallorca also sounding out Lucas Perez, who's had his contract terminated with Alaves.

Manaj has had several offers to leave Barça, with one from Cadiz, too. However, he prefers a move to Mallorca, who have started the season well on their return to LaLiga, winning two and drawing one of their first three games.

If he does leave, that would solve the shirt number situation. Manaj has been using No.14 but Philippe Coutinho could recover it, leaving No.10 free in the wake of Lionel Messi's departure. His shadow still looms large.