Barcelona’s pursuit of veteran midfielder N’Golo Kante appears to have hit a dead end, as head coach Hansi Flick has reportedly rejected the opportunity to sign the Al Ittihad player.

Barcelona’s current midfield woes have been exacerbated by the injury absences of key players. Gavi and Frenkie de Jong remain sidelined from the previous season, and Ilkay Gundogan has been let go due to financial constraints, despite his reliability last season. Additionally, Marc Bernal, a promising 17-year-old from La Masia, suffered a significant ACL injury, ruling him out for the rest of the season.

Kante, who was initially linked with Barcelona earlier in the summer, seemed a potential solution to bolster midfield depth. The Frenchman, now with Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, was considered a viable option to return to European football. However, reports suggest that Flick is not interested in pursuing Kante.

With Bernal’s long-term absence and Andreas Christensen also sidelined, Barcelona’s need for a midfielder remains pressing. Christensen’s injury, combined with the need to make financial adjustments for Dani Olmo, has left Barcelona in a tight spot. Despite these challenges, it seems unlikely that Barcelona will move forward with signing Kante.

In light of the financial hurdles and the impending transfer window deadline, Barcelona may instead turn to internal solutions. Marc Casado, a 20-year-old midfielder, is a likely candidate to step up, having already featured in the season opener. Pau Prim from Barca B could also be considered to fill the gaps in the first team.

As Barcelona navigates these constraints, promoting youth talent from within may become the club’s primary strategy for addressing their midfield deficiencies.