Celta Vigo's crisis on the pitch pushes Maxi Gomez towards Barcelona
The striker's release clause will half if Celta are relegated
Barcelona have been searching the market for a new striker for a while, thinking of the short, medium and long-term. Kevin Prince Boateng will leave the club in the summer when his loan from Sassuolo expires and there's no chance that the club will exercise their option to sign him.
Among the many names the club are considering, one seems ahead of the rest. That one is Maxi Gomez, Celta Vigo's Uruguayan striker. Barça like him a lot because his profile is similar to his compatriot, Luis Suarez, who is an undisputed starter at Camp Nou but is now 32. He himself has admitted Barça must plan for a future without him. Suarez and Gomez are friends and international teammates.
What makes Gomez the most attractive option right now is his price. His release clause is 50 million euros but it could change soon. The Vigo side lost this weekend to Real Betis and dropped into the relegation zone in La Liga. If they go down, Gomez's clause would reduce to 25 million euros.
Followed by various European clubs, the Uruguayan would be one of the most attractive players on the market and Barça are aware of that. For that reason, they're looking to reach a pre-agreement with the player. Barça are interested in Maxi Gomez regardless of Celta's future, but a hypothetical relegation would benefit their pursuit.
