Report: Konrad de la Fuente linked to Hertha Berlin

Konrad de la Fuente reportedly could be on his way to Berlin. According to an ESPNFC report, contract negotiations have broken down between de la Fuente and Barcelona, and the 18-year-old winger/forward is looking to make a move to Hertha Berlin.

According to the report, Hertha, coached by former United States Men’s National Team manager Jurgen Klinsmann, has shown interest in de la Fuente and he would have a chance to play senior team soccer in the Bundesliga. De la Fuente has been engaged in contract extension talks with Barcelona, where he joined the academy in 2014, but they seem to have hit a snag. De la Fuente’s contract expires in the summer, but Barça appeared confident last month that they would sign the youngster to a new deal.

Konrad’s reluctance centers around the deal that Barça offered, which was a 3-year deal with 2 additional option years. However, the deal relegated him to the club’s B team for the first two years of the extension, making him eligible in year 3 to join the first team. Konrad is hoping to have a chance to play first team soccer sooner rather than later and is pushing for a move that would allow that to happen. Konrad, who featured for the U.S. U-20s during the U-20 World Cup, presumably wants the opportunity to rise to the senior level in a fashion similar to fellow Americans Weston McKennie, Josh Sargent, and Christian Pulisic by doing it in the Bundesliga.

Hertha Berlin reportedly wants to sign Konrad during the January transfer window, but that would incur a transfer fee since he is still under contract. The other option would be for Konrad to walk away when his contract expires in June and he would be free to sign for any club he wants. If Hertha was still interested then, they would only have to pay development rights to Barça.

Hit the comments to discuss this potential move for Konrad de la Fuente and if leaving the Camp Nou for Berlin is a good move for him.