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Barcelona are ready to deal a double blow to Manchester United after jumping into the race for Borussia Dortmund striker Karim Adeyemi, says Fabrizio Romano.
Silky Speedster
Adeyemi, 24, has been a long-term target for Manchester United, with interest increasing in recent months as INEOS search for a new striker. Capable of playing on the wing or in the centre, the Germany international is a nightmare for defenders with his powerful combination of pace and skill.
As one of the fastest players in Bundesliga history (with a top speed of 36.65 km/h), Adeyemi is a deadly threat from behind. But he’s not just a pace merchant; rather, he is a powerful dribbler with a lethal right foot.
A dip in form saw him score 10 goals and provide five assists last season, down from 12 goals and 11 assists the year before. However, there have been reports of clashes with Dortmund’s coaching staff amid a difficult campaign for Edin Terzic’s side.
Black and yellow They are believed to be willing to sell the Munich native for a fee in the region of €65m (£55m). Manchester United are joined by Premier League rivals Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, while European champions Paris Saint-Germain are another suitor.
Barcelona strikes first
However, it was Barcelona who struck first in the heated race, with Romano confirming that the Spanish giants had submitted an “official bid” for Adeyemi, first reported by Gerard Romero.
🚨🔵🔴 URGENT: Barcelona has submitted an official application to Borussia Dortmund for Karim Adeyemi.
Negotiations with BVB are ongoing, as reported by @gerardromero.
Adeyemi wants Barcelona to be the ONLY club joining this summer. 🫱🏻🫲🏼
Barca have made their bid and want Adeyemi now, awaiting BVB’s decision. pic.twitter.com/mhKq9OGfPn
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 8, 2026
Tweet: “URGENT: Barcelona have submitted a formal bid to Borussia Dortmund for Karim Adeyemi. Negotiations with BVB are ongoing, as reported by @gerardromero. Adeyemi wants Barcelona to be the ONLY club to join this summer. Barca have made their bid and want Adeyemi to now await BVB’s decision.”
And it is a devastating blow to his other admirers, including the Manchester United chief, with the winger believed to only be keen on moving to the Camp Nou this summer. Club-to-club talks between Barcelona and Dortmund are ongoing, but the direction of travel points to Adeyemi’s move to Catalonia sooner or later.
However, the deal represents a second major blow to the Red Devils as it further rules out the possibility of the Blaugrana revisiting their interest in Marcus Rashford.
The 28-year-old England international, currently playing for the Three Lions at the World Cup in North America, spent last season on loan at Barcelona. The deal included a £26 million option to buy, which seemed like a formality after helping his adopted side retain the La Liga title.
But surprisingly, Barcelona chose not to make Rashford permanent, instead trying to renegotiate a cheaper deal or, preferably, a new loan. United firmly rejected the offer, preferring to bring him back to Old Trafford and find a new buyer rather than compromise their position.
However, the market for an aging striker whose effectiveness depends entirely on speed, with a wage package in excess of £300,000 a week, has proven a difficult sell. Clubs have expressed interest, but nothing is moving forward and nothing appears to be happening anytime soon.
The fact that Barcelona may now not even be willing to take Rashford on loan, having already signed Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United as they look to also add Adeyemi, could become a major concern for INEOS as the summer window progresses.
Featured image by Leon Kugeler via Getty Images
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