PSG plot Barcelona raid for Egyptian wonderkid Hamza Abdelkarim

Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly preparing to make a move for Barcelona’s highly rated Egyptian youngster Hamza Abdelkarim, with coach Luis Enrique said to be a strong admirer of the 18-year-old striker.

Abdelkarim joined Barcelona from Al Ahly on loan last February before the Catalan giants activated the permanent purchase clause in his agreement during the summer.

The teenager impressed during Barcelona’s preseason preparations under head coach Hansi Flick, finishing as the club’s leading scorer with four goals.

His performances earned him a place in Barcelona’s squad for La Liga matches against Elche, Athletic Bilbao and Rayo Vallecano. He made his first-team debut against Rayo Vallecano, featuring for a few minutes, and was also named among the substitutes for the meeting with Valencia.

Barcelona are now reportedly working to improve Abdelkarim’s contract as they look to secure his long-term future at the club. The Catalan giants are said to be considering an increase in his release clause from €15 million to €150 million.

However, according to Spanish outlet El Nacional, PSG are monitoring the situation closely and could attempt to sign the Egyptian at the beginning of next year.

The report claims Enrique has urged PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi to keep a close eye on Abdelkarim, having been impressed by the youngster’s ability and potential during Barcelona’s preseason campaign.

Enrique reportedly believes the Egyptian has the qualities required to develop into one of the world’s leading strikers and sees him as a potential elite No. 9 for the next decade.

Despite Abdelkarim having made only a brief appearance in an official first-team match, his preseason performances are said to have been enough to convince the PSG coach of his considerable potential.

PSG’s financial strength could make the French champions a serious threat to Barcelona’s plans. The reported €15 million release clause is considered relatively modest for a club of PSG’s financial capacity, meaning they could potentially trigger it if Barcelona fail to reach an agreement with the youngster over a new contract.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco are therefore reportedly keen to resolve the situation quickly, particularly with Abdelkarim’s market value expected to rise if he continues progressing.

Talks are already said to be underway between Barcelona and the player’s representatives over improved terms, as the Spanish giants look to protect one of their most promising young talents.

Meanwhile, PSG are reportedly prepared to make their move during the January transfer window, setting the stage for a potential battle with Barcelona for the future of the Egyptian teenager.