Aleix Vidal from Spain of FC Barcelona during the first FC Barcelona training session of the 2018/2019 La Liga pre season in Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Barcelona on 11 of July of 2018. (Photo by Xavier Bonilla/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Joaquin Correa’s imminent departure could facilitate Vidal’s move to Sevilla.

Barcelona have been attempting to sell a number of unwanted players this summer as they attempt to cut down the wage budget. Vidal is one of them because he has been unable to hold down a staring place since he joined in 2015.

The 28-year-old has been used as a winger and a full-back during his time at the club, but he struggled to impress in both those roles. His defensive work wasn’t convincing as a full-back and his end product wasn’t good enough as a winger. Therefore, a move away would be in his best interest because Ernesto Valverde only sees him as a right-winger and he has Malcom and Ousmane Dembele above him in the pecking order.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Correa’s imminent move to Lazio will open up a space in the team with Pablo Machin seeing Vidal as the ideal player to bring in. He spent a year at the club in which time he won the Europa League before joining Barcelona. However, there is currently a difference in valuations because Barca value him at €10 million while Los Hispalenses believe they can get him for €7 million due to the Catalans clearly wanting to get rid of him.

Machin used a 3-4-2-1 formation for the majority of last season with Girona and utilised a back three in all of the league games. Therefore, he’s likely to do the same with Sevilla, so Vidal is probably going to be competing with Jesus Navas for the right wing-back role.

This role could suit him because it’s a mixture of how he was used at Barcelona. His focus on providing the width for the team is ideal because he isn’t a main offensive weapon, but can also get away with some defensive lapses due to the cover behind him.

Barcelona will make a loss on him based on their valuation, but selling him this summer is the best move. They no longer need him for cover in any position, so he is just taking up some of the wage budget when La Masia graduates could be taking his place in the periphery of the team. There is unlikely to be much more serious interest in his signature, so they may be forced to accept the €7 million offer.