The future of Barca’s rock-solid defense remains up in the air for next season, as the sale of Marc Batra to BVB and the inevitable departure of Dani Alves – probably to Juventus – will see their back four severely depleted in numbers.
There linger questions over the future of makeshift center-back Javier Mascherano despite the Argentine ace recently hinting at a Camp Nou stay. At this current moment, the Catalan giants have only Sergi Roberto and Aleix Vidal for the right-back slot, though the latter may not play until January due to FIFA sanctions.
Down the middle, Barca are left with Gerard Pique, Jeremy Mathieu and the injury-prone Thomas Vermaelen. As a result, El Confidencial report that the Liga BBVA holders’ sporting director Robert Fernandez has contacted two defenders and their agents over the prospect of a summer Camp Nou move.
Both are defenders; one is French, the other Spanish, as Luis Enrique’s crew look to fill the right-back and center-back void. According to the report, the Catalan giants have approached Aymeric Laporte of Athletic Bilbao and Arsenal starlet Hector Bellerin.
Both players, currently with their national side preparing for the upcoming Euro 2016, were contacted and made aware of Barca’s interest behind their respective clubs’ back. Regardless, it will take a lot to convince Los Leones and the Gunners to sell.
In Laporte’s case, the Blaugrana need to trigger the Frenchman’s £39m (€50m) in order to land the highly-rated center-back. However, luring Bellerin from the Emirates may prove tricky despite being having signed for the north London giants from Barca.
The 21-year-old, named in the PFA Team of the Season after a stellar 2015/16 campaign, recently dismissed rumors linking him with a return to Spain. He said (as per the Daily Star):
"I say this every year, for me my home is in England.
"I have live in England for many years, I have my family there, I'm living with my girlfriend.
"I am very happy there, so I do not see anywhere else other than Arsenal."
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