Barcelona are hoping to get a last-minute sponsorship deal done with Nike before the end of the transfer window, which would in theory allow them to spend in the final days of the market, subject to approval from La Liga. Perhaps surprisingly, the latest is that they will move for a defender if they do have money to spend.
Reports emerged yesterday that Jonathan Tah is one of their preferred options, with manager Hansi Flick having worked with him before at the German national team. Jijantes note that Flick has asked the agent they share, Pini Zahavi, to see if a deal is possible. Tah, 28, is out of contract next summer, and could be available for cheap.
👀Hansi le ha pedido a PINI Zahavi si puede afrontar esta operación
En la linia de lo que contaba Juanmartí esta mañana en Sport
💶TODO SUJETO a la SITUACIÓN ECONOMICA del club de estos próximos días https://t.co/ecBHtyiOK8
— Gerard Romero (@gerardromero) August 26, 2024
Meanwhile MD say that Valencia’s 20-year-old centre-back Cristhian Mosquera is another defender that is on their shortlist. While Los Che are generally open to sales for the right price, it is noted that so close to the deadline, that might not be the case. Another option that has been offered to Barcelona is ex-Atletico Madrid defender Mario Hermoso. The 29-year-old is a free agent after leaving the Metropolitano.
Al-Ittihad are exploring a move for Iñigo Martínez. @sport
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) August 27, 2024
Youngster Andres Cuenca, 17, is also noted as a potential first-teamer, but the Blaugrana believe it is too early for his development to move him into the first team.
On the one hand, Barcelona have six central defenders in Eric Garcia, Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez. However Garcia could still leave the club, while Araujo and Christensen are likely to miss much of the rest of 2024. Kounde looks as if he may be used at right-back too, leaving Hansi Flick with just two certainties until January.
