Ansu Fati is reportedly in line to be left in limbo at Barcelona once he concludes his loan spell with Brighton & Hove Albion.
Despite initially bursting onto the scene as a teenager, injuries and a drop off in form led to the winger being made available for transfer last summer.
Having been unable to attract any suitable permanent offers for the Spain international, Barcelona were willing to allow Fati to move to the Premier League on a loan deal.
Although no option to buy was included in the deal, the Catalan giants had hoped that starring for the Seagulls could lead to a big-money sale at the end of the season.
There have been times when there has been reason for optimism, with the 21-year-old used regularly by Roberto De Zerbi either from the start or off the substitutes' bench.
However, Fati has reached this point in the campaign with just nine starts and 14 substitute outings to his name, contributing four goals and one assist.
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Why Fati's game time could be further limited
While Fati was sidelined for over two months through injury, preventing him from gaining minutes during a busy December and January period, he has had two months to work his way back into the team.
Nevertheless, on just one occasion since the beginning of February, Fati has played more than an hour in a single game, as well as providing no goals or assists.
Earlier this week, head coach Roberto De Zerbi revealed that Fati was left out of the squad for the game at Brentford through choice, not an injury.
The Italian told reporters: "Fati is working very well but from him I have a different expectation. I don't change my opinion about Ansu Fati – he is one of the best talents in the world for his age.
"Our responsibility is to help him improve – to improve his performances, his physical condition, his mentality. To play in the Premier League, you have to be stronger mentally and physically. When we shows us the right condition, he will be ready to play for us and I will be happy."
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What do Barcelona think?
According to Marca, Fati's lack of progress at Brighton has made his long-term future all the more unclear.
The report suggests that Barcelona are yet to make a decision over how to handle the situation, with the obvious preferred outcome being a sale in order to boost their financial position.
That said, with three years left on Fati's contract, there is a reluctance to cash in for a fee significantly below their valuation, with a return to the first-team squad seemingly not out of the question.
Much may depend on the opinion of a new manager, should Xavi not be tempted into staying at Camp Nou, or whether another high-profile player can be sold instead.
Darren Plant
