Alan Pardew predicts next club for €45 million-rated Barcelona defensive target | OneFootball

FC Barcelona saw Inigo Martinez leave the Catalan club to join Al Nassr in the summer. The Spanish veteran was arguably the club’s best defender under Hansi Flick last season and, almost inexplicably, Deco chose not to sign a replacement.

That decision already seems to be haunting Barcelona, with Hansi Flick yet to settle on a central defensive partnership this season. Pau Cubarsi appears to be an undisputed first choice, but who lines up alongside him is anyone’s guess.

Eric is probably the player who has impressed most in this regard, but both Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen have been given chances to mixed effect. Thus, it is no surprise that Barcelona are among the clubs linked with Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi.

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Now, speaking in an interview on Sky Sports, as quoted by Caught Offside, former Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has claimed that he thinks there is a good chance Guehi continues his career abroad, due to a January clause in his contract. Here is what he said:

Interestingly, it has to be said that Guehi was a whisker away from securing a move to Liverpool in the summer. However, the transfer fell through at the eleventh hour as Palace were unable to sign a replacement for their €45 million-rated captain.

A player like Guehi on a free transfer is exactly what Hansi Flick and Barcelona need to bolster the back line. He has all the attributes of a modern-day centre-back, and the club should be all over the situation, trying to sign him ahead of the 2026/27 season.