Barcelona, Real Madrid among clubs tracking 18-year-old towering defender – report | OneFootball

FC Barcelona are scouring the market for defensive reinforcements both for the upcoming January transfer window and later for the summer.

Andreas Christensen’s recent injury has left the team looking for a player to add depth in the position, with reports suggesting that the club are leaning towards signing a young talent with great potential and a bright future ahead.

The Blaugrana are reportedly tracking Luka Vuskovic and Konstantinos Koulierakis, although a January move for either looks difficult.

Now, it appears that another young defensive prospect has caught the La Liga champions’ attention.

Barcelona monitoring Branimir Mlacic

According to Sport.fr, Barcelona are among a plethora of top European clubs tracking the progress of Croatian talent Branimir Mlacic.

Just 18 years old, the centre-back is enjoying his breakthrough season at Hajduk Split, making 18 first-team appearances so far.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Branimir Mlačić (@branimir.mlacic)

The central defender, who stands at a towering 1.92 m, has one appearance for the Croatian U-21 national team, after having played twice for the U-19 side.

An imposing physical presence at the back, Mlacic also happens to be quick and comfortable with the ball at his feet, while his maturity and positioning also stand out.

Given his age and potential, Barcelona have taken note of the Croatian teenager, although they are not alone as the likes of Real Madrid and Inter Milan also admire the youngster.

However, as per the report, Mlacic is also a target for Marseille for the upcoming January transfer window. The French club intend to sign the Hajduk Split talent in the winter and loan him out for the second half of the season.

Moreover, the 18-year-old could be leaning towards a move to the Ligue 1 outfit, which could hamper Barcelona’s chances, if they are serious about a move for the youngster.