Barcelona reportedly have a 4-man centre-back shortlist this summer season as Xavi seems to shore up his protection forward of subsequent season.
In line with Mundo Deportivo, regardless of having already agreed a deal to signal Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen, Xavi is eager on bringing in one other, extra bodily centre-back as a defensive possibility. The Spaniard views Christensen as a extra technical defender, who will compete with the likes of Eric Garcia and Gerard Pique. He’d somewhat usher in a extra bodily imposing defender as competitors to Ronald Araujo.
In line with the report, Barcelona have already shortlisted 4 gamers as potential choices this summer season. The shortlist consists of Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly, Sevilla’s Jules Kounde, Athletic Bilbao’s Inigo Martinez and AC Milan’s Alessio Romagnoli.
Barcelona’s precedence to bolster the centre-back place is Koulibaly.— @sport https://t.co/oQELT7cqN5
Barcelona are set to permit the likes of Samuel Umtiti and Clement Lenglet to depart the membership this summer season, with doubts surrounding the way forward for Oscar Mingueza as effectively. Xavi is seeking to usher in a brand new period on the membership and is ready to fully overhaul the squad so as to take action.
Every one of many defenders would profit Barcelona
The Blaugrana would massively enhance in the event that they have been in a position to get any of the 4 defenders on the shortlist.
Koulibaly has lengthy been linked with a transfer to the Catalan giants and is ready to go away Napoli this summer season, having already rejected a contract extension from the membership. Nonetheless, the Senegalese defender’s contract is ready to expire in 2023 and the Italian membership haven’t any intention of letting him go away.
Jules Kounde would offer a youthful possibility and would go a great distance in setting the membership up for years to come back. The Frenchman is just 23-years outdated and can repeatedly enhance. The one drawback with signing Kounde could be the switch price as Sevilla will reportedly not settle for something lower than €60 million for the defender.
Inigo Martinez could be the most affordable possibility on the listing and the most secure wager because the Spaniard is a veteran in La Liga, having performed within the league since 2011. The 31-year outdated would additionally present Barcelona with a left-footed possibility, however wages may pose an enormous drawback for the Blaugrana as a result of distinction in tax legal guidelines between the Basque nation and Catalonia.
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Romagnoli is a free agent this summer season however is coming off captaining AC Milan to their first Scudetto win in 11 years. It appears doubtless that the Italian will renew his contract with the Rossoneri, which might rule out a transfer to Barcelona.
