Barcelona director makes contact with Porto for 26-year-old defender – report | OneFootball

While the search for a new centre-back may have taken a backseat with the focus on signing a centre-forward first, FC Barcelona continue to work on both fronts in the market.

Alessandro Bastoni had been touted as the priority to strengthen the centre-back department, but multiple factors, including a high transfer fee, have led to the Catalans cooling down their interest.

In recent days, the name of FC Porto defender Jakub Kiwior has emerged as a possible target for the La Liga champions.

Deco has had contact with Porto president

Building on that, Polish journalist Tomasz Wlodarczyk reports that Barcelona sporting director Deco has made contact with Porto president Andre Villas-Boas over a potential move for Kiwior.

Kiwior is an option for Barcelona. (Photo by Mateusz Slodkowski/Getty Images)

While there is nothing advanced at this point, the contacts taking place seemingly suggests that the Blaugrana do hold a concrete interest in the 26-year-old Polish defender.

Kiwior is coming on the back of an impressive season at Porto as he played a key role in their league title triumph in Portugal.

The 26-year-old also fits the profile of players Barça are looking for in defence – left-footed, aggressive, and comfortable playing with the ball at his feet.

Affordable option

While he might not be the priority target, Kiwior is considered much more affordable than Barcelona’s other targets such as Bastoni or Nico Schlotterbeck, who recently renewed his contract with Borussia Dortmund.

Jakub Kiwior to Barcelona? (Photo by Rafal Oleksiewicz/Getty Images)

The Polish international has been at Porto on loan from Arsenal (€2 million loan fee), with the transfer set to become permanent at the end of the season for €17 million.

So, as per the journalist, the Portuguese champions could be open to offers of around €40 million for the centre-back.

With Deco now holding talks with Andre Villas-Boas, it remains to be seen if this materialises into something substantial in the weeks to come.