Pep Guardiola's hopes of landing Barcelona wonderkid have been dented with the Spanish giants planning a new deal - which includes a €1bn release clause.
The cash-strapped La Liga club are pulling out all the stops to keep the teenager at the Nou Camp after earlier contract talks over a new deal stalled alerting Manchester City and Liverpool.
Barcelona are deep in debt and Gavi's advisers led by agent and former Barcelona midfielder Ivan de la Pena - were disappointed when club negotiators offered what was considered derisory terms with the youngster's present agreement now in its final year. That put Gavi firmly on City's radar but Barcelona have upped their offer and are determined to tie down the youngster on a six-year contract with an extraordinary release clause.
Gavi had an original £43million release clause in the first two years of his deal but that has now expired and the clause has doubled to £86million. That's huge money for a youngster who is still developing but Guardiola believes Gavi can mature into one of the world's best.
Barcelona know that too and are speaking to the teenagers management team about the €1billion trigger – the biggest in football history.
If Gavi signs it will put him out of the reach of even the world's wealthiest clubs like City, backed by Abu Dhabi, and French champions Paris Saint Germain who are owned by the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani through the investment vehicle Qatar Sports Investments.
For those clubs the best hope of signing Gavi is now and until the midfielder signs a new contract, it's understood City are closely monitoring developments.
Barcelona, though, are keen to make Gavi the face of their future – and they have made him the poster-boy for the unveiling of their all gold new away kit which is a nod to the 1992 Olympics held in the city thirty years ago.
