BVB raid Barça? Dortmund eye defensive all-rounder | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund are apparently also keeping an eye on FC Barcelona in their search for promising talents. With Xavi Espart, the Black and Yellows have a 19-year-old Spaniard on their radar who is increasingly making a name for himself under Hansi Flick. BVB have already taken a closer look at the versatile youngster on site.

According to information from fussball-news.de, Dortmund scouts were in the stands for Espart’s recent appearances to follow his development from close range. Dortmund are not alone in this, however. Bayer Leverkusen are also closely monitoring the Barça talent and have sent observers to Spain. There is also interest from the Premier League.

Even so, there is no talk of an imminent transfer at this stage. Dortmund are still in the monitoring phase. BVB have not yet submitted an offer to Barcelona. Nevertheless, the specific scouting shows that Espart is very much on the club’s radar.

Espart’s versatility makes him interesting for BVB

From Dortmund’s perspective, the Spanish youth international brings a very intriguing profile. Espart came through the famous Barça academy La Masia and can play in several positions. He was trained, among other roles, as a right-back and a defensive midfielder, but under Flick he has increasingly been used on the left side of defence.

That versatility in particular could make him attractive to BVB. Espart is considered technically gifted, possesses strong game intelligence, and is also comfortable in build-up play. Qualities that could make him an option for various roles in Dortmund’s team.

His development has not gone unnoticed by Flick either. The former Germany head coach is said to rate Espart highly. Particularly remarkable: within the club, his playing profile is reportedly even being compared to that of Philipp Lahm. Like the German football legend, Espart can be deployed in different positions and stands out above all for his tactical understanding.

Barcelona want to keep Espart long term

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For Borussia Dortmund, however, it is likely to be difficult to prise Espart away from Barcelona. His current contract runs until 2028. On top of that, the Catalans are apparently already planning the next step and want to begin talks over an early extension.

A sale of the 19-year-old is not currently planned at Barça. Only an exceptionally lucrative offer could potentially change the Spaniards’ stance. For BVB, that means: if their interest ever becomes more concrete, Dortmund would likely have to dig deep into their pockets.

For now, however, it remains completely open whether it will even come to that. The Black and Yellows first want to continue tracking Espart’s development. In addition to live impressions, the youngster’s performance data also plays a role.

BVB must hold their own against high-profile competition

The fact that Dortmund are closely watching Espart fits the club’s well-known transfer strategy. BVB regularly look for young players who have already gained initial experience at a high level while still possessing considerable room for development.

In Espart’s case, however, the competition could be fierce. In addition to Leverkusen, several Premier League clubs are also said to have sent scouts to his recent matches. The more the 19-year-old establishes himself at Barcelona, the more difficult any potential transfer is likely to become.

For the moment, the main thing is not to lose touch with the situation. If an unexpected opportunity arises during the planned contract talks between Espart and Barça, Borussia Dortmund could become alert. The fact that BVB have already had the youngster watched several times shows at the very least: Espart is no longer an unknown name in Dortmund.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.