Barcelona are battling to secure Oriol Busquets to a new deal.
The midfielder's current agreement expires in June and while agent Josep Maria Orobitg is in talks about a renewal, progress has been slow.
Sport says Barca coach Ernesto Valverde rates Busquets highly and sees him as cover for Sergio Busquets next season.
However, with his contract about to expire, Barca are vulnerable to losing the youngster this summer.
Busquets' priority is to stay, though Orobitg is fielding enquiries from Spain and across Europe.