€55m Premier League centre-back emerges as the player Deco ‘likes most‘ on Barcelona shortlist | OneFootball

The defensive roadmap of FC Barcelona has been forced into motion earlier than expected. What was initially shaping up as a carefully staged rebuild has now turned into a two-speed operation, with immediate concerns colliding with longer-term planning.

The sporting department, in close coordination with Hansi Flick, is having to think simultaneously about January reinforcements and a more decisive move next summer.

The latest setback has only sharpened that urgency. With Andreas Christensen sidelined for several months due to a serious knee injury, Barcelona are now short not just in numbers, but in profiles.

Flick’s system relies heavily on centre-backs who are comfortable stepping into midfield zones, building from the back, and holding a high defensive line. Finding that blend in the winter market is notoriously difficult, and Barcelona know it.

January, however, is being viewed as a short-term patch rather than a solution. The bigger picture lies in the summer, when the club intends to address the gap left by Inigo Martinez’s departure to Saudi Arabia with a top-level signing.

Deco’s shortlist has been forming for months, with Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck and Aston Villa’s Pau Torres both monitored closely for their tactical suitability and experience. However, one name stands above the rest internally.

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According to SPORT, Marc Guehi is the centre-back Deco likes most among Barcelona centre-back targets. The €55 million-rated England international, currently at Crystal Palace, fits the profile Barca are targeting.

He is composed on the ball, strong in duels, and mature enough to anchor a defence without limiting its progression. Crucially, his contract expires on June 30, 2026, and with no renewal agreed, he will be free to negotiate with other clubs from January 1st, 2026.

That opportunity has not gone unnoticed across Europe. Liverpool remain keen after failing to land him last season, Bayern Munich have made inquiries, and both Real Madrid and Manchester City are tracking his situation.

Palace manager Oliver Glasner, however, has made it clear that Guehi will not leave in January, with all indications pointing to a summer exit.

For Barcelona, this is where a decisive strategy matters. Guehi represents a solid market opportunity that could revolutionise Flick’s rearguard. A free transfer of a player entering his prime could allow Barca to reinforce a fragile defence without compromising their financial recovery.

But competition will be fierce, and persuasion will be decisive. The question is whether they can move fast enough when it truly matters.