Hector Fort now appears to be moving towards the exit at FC Barcelona, with the 20-year-old right-back already accepting that he may not be at the club this season. His situation has attracted interest from Everton, Fulham, Liverpool and Inter de Milán, and Barcelona must now find a solution that works for both sides.
The picture has changed quickly. Last season, Fort went on loan to Elche without any purchase option for the Alicante club, and this summer he has not seen Hansi Flick alter his plans during pre-season. That has left the player facing a familiar but more immediate question: what comes next.
A move that now looks likely
Fort is under contract until 2029, so Barcelona still hold a strong hand in any negotiation. But that does not mean the situation is simple. The club must decide whether the best answer is another loan or a permanent sale, with the reported valuation set at 30 million euros.
For the player, the priority is clear enough. At 20, he needs regular football, and he is already prepared to seek it away from Les Corts if the right opportunity appears. That is why the interest from clubs in Inglaterra and Italia matters so much.
Barcelona’s balancing act
Barcelona will want to protect the value of a young defender with a long contract, but they also need to be realistic about the squad picture. If Flick has not changed his stance in pre-season, Fort’s route into the first team looks narrow for now.
There is also a wider competition for his signature. Everton, Fulham and Liverpool are all monitoring the situation, while Inter de Milán are also part of the conversation. That gives Fort options, but it also means Barcelona must move carefully if they want the outcome to suit them financially and sporting-wise.
What happens next?
The next step is likely to centre on timing and structure. Fort has already assumed he is leaving, and now the focus shifts to whether Barcelona can agree a formula that gives him a proper platform to continue his career while still protecting their position.
If that can be done, the former Elche loanee could soon become one of the more closely watched young moves of the summer.
