Xavi has an almost completely new defense in mind at Barcelona next season, reports Sport† With Ferran Torres, Adama Traoré and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the selection of the Catalans received a considerable quality boost from an offensive point of view during the winter transfer window. According to the Spanish newspaper, Barca have big plans to strengthen the defense next summer.
Barcelona still have hopes of signing Erling Braut Haaland after this season, but according to Sport Renewing the defenses with three or four reinforcements for Xavi is a priority. Óscar Mingueza, Samuel Umtiti and Clément Lenglet should leave the club next summer. Lenglet in particular gets regular minutes this season, but the Spanish coach is looking for a different type of defender.
The future of the now 35-year-old Gerard Pique is also still unclear. In any case, the club seems to be focusing on the arrival of a transfer-free center defender and a new leader in the defense. The names of Andreas Christensen and Jules Koundé are on the Barcelona shortlist circled in red. Xavi believes Barcelona must sign a ‘world-class defender’ if it is to compete for the trophies and, according to Sport in Koundé with his strength, technique and versatility ‘a defender of the future’.
Attracting Koundé will not be an easy story, as Sevilla have always stood their ground by settling for nothing less than his €80million escape clause. In addition, Chelsea have been negotiating with the French defender for a year and a possible transfer to London next summer is said to be at an advanced stage. Despite everything, at Barcelona they believe that Koundé’s preference is for los Azulgranaif the club has enough financial resources to make its arrival possible.
Barcelona is not just targeting central defenders. The club is also still looking for the transfer-free arrival of César Azpilicueta, while also looking for a serious competitor for Jordi Alba for the first time in many years. Nicolás Tagliafico missed a dream transfer to Catalonia during the winter transfer window. Barca’s dream candidate, however, is Jose Gaya. The Valencia left-back was already close to a move to Barcelona last summer, but is now on the cusp of renewing his contract with the current number eleven of LaLiga.
Finally, Barcelona would like to continue with Ronald Araújo. The seven-time Uruguayan international rejected a first official offer to extend his contract last week. Araújo earns according to ASH currently ‘only’ 900,000 thousand euros, a salary that is considerably lower than the other center defenders of Barcelona. Araújo has the intention to extend, but would like to see the club’s appreciation on his pay slip.