Espanyol in talks to snag Ángel Alarcón from Porto
The Barcelona academy graduate could be heading back to Catalonia as Espanyol open negotiations with Porto for the Spanish winger who's struggled for consistent first-team minutes.
Espanyol are moving quickly to bolster their attacking options with Porto’s Spanish winger Ángel Alarcón emerging as a prime target in the January window.
Barcelona youth product on Espanyol’s radar
The Catalan club have initiated contact with Porto regarding Alarcón, who came through Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy before making the move to Portugal. Sources close to the Spanish club have confirmed the talented wide man is high on their list of priorities to strengthen their flanks.
This potential move would see Alarcón return to familiar Catalan territory, though this time donning the blue and white of Barça’s city rivals rather than the blaugrana colours he wore during his development years.
Limited opportunities in Portugal
Alarcón’s time at Porto hasn’t quite gone according to plan, with the Spaniard bouncing between the first team and the reserves this season. The numbers tell the story:
- 8 appearances for Porto B in Portugal’s second division
- Just 3 matches in the Portuguese top flight
- 2 Europa League appearances
- 1 game in the Portuguese League Cup
This lack of consistent playing time appears to have opened the door for Espanyol to swoop in and offer the youngster a route back to Spain.
What it means for Espanyol
For the Pericos, landing Alarcón would represent a proper bit of business. They’re getting a technically gifted player with La Masia pedigree who simply needs regular minutes to show his worth. At just 22, he’s got bags of potential that hasn’t been fully tapped at Porto.
Negotiations between the clubs are ongoing, but this has all the makings of a sensible January move for both player and club. If Espanyol can get this over the line, they’ll be adding some much-needed creativity to their attacking arsenal.