?Barcelona are understood to have triggered the release clause of Braga striker Francisco Trincão, in a summer swap deal that could see Abel Ruiz move in the other direction.
The Catalan giants have been linked with a number of forwards ever since Luis Suarez picked up a knee injury at the beginning of the month, ruling the Uruguayan out for an extended period of time.
A move this month seems unlikely, however, with director of institutional relations Guillermo Amor categorically denying that the club will be bringing in a replacement frontman in January on Barça TV (via Juan Jiménez Salvadó).
Although these comments seemed to put an end to Quique Setien’s January recruitment drive, a number of Spanish media outlets (via ?Lucas Sposito) are reporting that the club have triggered the release clause of Braga striker Trincão – with the youngster likely to join the club in the summer.
O Jogo claim Barcelona are paying €31m for the 20-year-old’s services with Ruiz joining the Portuguese side on loan until the end of the season as makeweight in the deal. Included in Ruiz’s contract will be an obligation for Braga to sign the player permanently in the summer for €8m.
Trincão has made 22 appearances for Os Arsenalistas in all competitions this season, scoring on just three occasions – though he has registered six assists.
In the past, Barcelona have been linked with a January move for Arsenal’s top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, making their decision to pursue such an unproven commodity surprising. The club have also shown interest in Rodrigo, though that deal appears to have reached an impasse over the hefty transfer fee Valencia are demanding.
Barcelona showed little signs of a lack of attacking threat on Thursday evening as they romped to a ?5-0 Copa del Rey victory over Leganes.
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