To try and solve Hansi Flick’s problems in defense, the Barça management has targeted 5 names for the coming months.
The thrashing suffered at Chelsea on Tuesday in the Champions League (3-0) has highlighted Barcelona’s defensive shortcomings and needs more than ever. In their last two Champions League matches alone (including the 3-3 draw against Club Brugge), Hansi Flick’s men have conceded six goals (they have the second-worst defense in the top 24 with 10 goals conceded). The defeats against PSG (2-1) and Real Madrid (2-1) also served as a reminder of how much last season’s key players are struggling now. This is the case for Jules Koundé, who has struggled immensely since the start of the season and was once again singled out for his poor performance against Chelsea this week. And what about Ronald Araujo , sent off for a catastrophic tackle on Marc Cucurella 50 meters from his own goal? Pau Cubarsi, who was excellent last season, also showed some limitations against the phenomenal Estevao, who gave him a torrid time.
Ambitious avenues
Hansi Flick is better aware than anyone of the challenges awaiting his management next summer. According to Mundo Deportivo , the German coach has made three priority requests: a central defender, a winger, and a striker. For the moment, several options have emerged, primarily in defense. According to the Catalan media outlet, Barça is tracking Sporting’s Portuguese international, Gonçalo Inácio.
Hailed as a rising star in his position in Portugal, the 24-year-old has an estimated value of around €40 million. Dortmund’s German defender Nico Schlotterbeck is also a target being considered by Deco, but the Catalan sporting director will face competition from Bayern Munich (whose price tag is also estimated at around €40 million). The same applies to Marc Guehi, a free agent next summer and heavily courted by Barça… as well as Liverpool. Two other options have also gained traction internally in recent days: the Brazilian international Murillo from Nottingham Forest, and the promising 19-year-old Brazilian Luis Benedetti, who plays for Palmeiras and would cost a relatively small transfer fee.