Barcelona keeping tabs on Crystal Palace captain – Report | OneFootball

FC Barcelona lost one of their key centre-backs, Inigo Martinez, this summer after the Spanish veteran joined Al Nassr, but they chose not to replace him in the squad. However, the team’s defensive weaknesses have been evident since the start of the new campaign.

If things do not improve, the Catalan club could look to enter the transfer market for a new central defender. According to Mundo Deportivo, one player Barcelona are interested in is Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi.

The Englishman came close to joining Liverpool this summer, but the deal fell through at the last minute. He is now in the final year of his contract with the Eagles and could be available as a free agent next summer.

Guehi is attracting interest from several top European clubs, including Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and FC Barcelona. In England, Liverpool remain keen on signing him, while Manchester United also view him as a potential replacement for Harry Maguire.

The Catalan giants are unlikely to make a move in January. However, if the opportunity arises to sign him on a free transfer next summer, it would represent an excellent addition to Hansi Flick’s squad.

The report notes that, ideally, Barcelona would prefer to sign a left-footed central defender but regard Guehi as too good a market opportunity to ignore. The 25-year-old Englishman has demonstrated at Crystal Palace that he is also comfortable playing on the left side of defence.

With Ronald Araujo struggling to impress under Flick and the German coach seemingly unconvinced by Andreas Christensen, signing a defender of Guehi’s quality would represent an excellent coup for the Catalan club. It remains to be seen whether Barcelona can beat the competition to his signature.