The 19-year-old full-back was absent from Barcelona's training session on Friday, signaling that his departure could be finalized soon.
The Catalans have decided that Fort is not part of manager Hansi Flick's plans for the 2025-26 La Liga season, with Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde preferred at right-back. Determined to nurture his development, Barcelona are prioritizing a loan move to ensure Fort gains regular first-team experience, with the expectation that he will return as a stronger player next summer. "The club see Fort as a long-term asset and are only open to a temporary departure," a club source told Mundo Deportivo.
West Ham United have taken pole position in negotiations, engaging in private talks with Barcelona to structure a loan deal, potentially with an option to buy, as reported by Tribuna.com. The Hammers are eager to bolster their defensive options and view Fort as a promising talent who can thrive with consistent minutes in the Premier League. "West Ham have put their cards on the table for Fort," Diario SPORT noted, highlighting the club's proactive approach.
Mallorca have also expressed interest in Fort, seeing him as a potential replacement for their right-back Pablo Maffeo, who is in talks to join Sevilla. However, Mallorca's move hinges on finalizing Maffeo's transfer, and Barcelona's urgency to resolve Fort's future could see them miss out. "Mallorca remain interested but must make sales before signing players," Tribuna.com reported, suggesting time is running out for the La Liga side.
Fort's exit is crucial for Barcelona, who are working to free up salary cap space to register new left-back Gerard Martin ahead of their La Liga clash against Levante on Saturday. The impending contract termination of midfielder Oriol Romeu is also expected to ease financial constraints, according to Marca.
The teenager, who made 17 La Liga appearances last season, remains optimistic about his future.
Barcelona's sporting department are confident that a loan spell will refine Fort's skills, with Flick retaining a close eye on his progress. "Fort urgently needs regular minutes to continue his development, a need that Barcelona simply cannot fulfill at this point," Diario SPORT stated.
For now, all signs point to an imminent move, with West Ham poised to offer the young Spaniard a platform to shine.
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