Barcelona to compete with Liverpool for defender in 2026 | OneFootball

Barcelona and Real Madrid have both made it a policy to look at the free agent market in recent years for value veteran signings. The latter have had a major impact on Liverpool’s transfer planning in recent years, and the former are hoping to be.

Los Blancos are highly interested in Liverpool central defender Ibrahima Konate, and the Frenchman’s refusal to sign a new deal means that they can approach him for a free transfer in January, just as they did with Trent Alexander-Arnold. That has pushed Liverpool to move for a potential replacement in England international Marc Guehi, but a €35m deal with Crystal Palace collapsed on transfer deadline day, much to the reported chagrin of Guehi.

Barcelona to compete with Liverpool for defender

According to Sport, Guehi is now on the agenda of Director of Football Deco at Barcelona too. The Blaugrana are attracted by the contract situation of the 25-year-old, who is one of the more impressive central defenders in the Premier League. Many presume that Liverpool will return to pursue his signature, having agreed personal terms with Guehi ahead of the collapsed move, but the report also notes that Real Madrid are following his situation.

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Barcelona have gap in defensive planning

Following the exit of Inigo Martinez this summer, Barcelona now have Eric Garcia, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araujo and Pau Cubarsi as options in central defence. With Christensen out of contract next summer, and Kounde generally operating at right-back, there is certainly scope for an addition at the back.

Araujo in theory is the most likely partner for Cubarsi looking to the long-term, but it has now been around two years since the Uruguayan has performed consistently, and if he cannot assert himself this season, his future will come into further doubt too.