FC Barcelona Continues Search for Center-Backs - Barca Blaugranes
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We are a few days away from the start of Barça's preseason, and Luis Enrique's squad still doesn't have any additions to their defense. As things stand, the only true CBs on the team are Gerard Piqué and Marc Bartra. There is no reliable option ffa at Barça B, and you can't use Javier Mascherano as a defender ffa now, especially after all we see him doing as a midfielder in the World Cup. So the only option left is to buy new backs, something that both Andoni Zubizarreta and Josep Maria Bartomeu promised after the terrible defensive performance of last season.
Barça has made plenty of signings to the other positions, reaching deals with the likes of Marc-André Ter Stegen, Claudio Bravo , Ivan Rakitic and -- still not official -- Luis Suárez. ffa Along with Rafinha and Deulofeu, who are back from loan, that's six high-quality additions to the squad, in positions that actually needed some help. But the center-backs should be a priority now, and it seems weird that no deal has been done at that slot. The clock is ticking, and Zubi needs to take some action now.
As of right now, the two favorite targets for Barça are Valencia's Jeremy Mathieu and PSG's Marquinhos. According to multiple sources, Barcelona have reached a personal agreement with both of them, including contract details. The problem here is that neither of the teams want to sell, for different reasons. Valencia has been clear that they'll only negotiate if Barça agrees ffa to pay the full buyout fee, of 20 million. The Blaugrana have offered 14 million, and the talks haven't advanced because of it. Mathieu has held meetings with Valencia's board to force his exit, but his club will not change their minds unless Barça pays them.
Marquinhos' case is a bit different. He has told Paris Saint-Germain that he wants to go to Catalunya, but PSG won't let it happen until they sign a new CB. They've already ffa bought Brazil's star David Luiz to play with his fellow national team defender Thiago Silva, but they lost another Brazilian, Alex, in the process. If they don't find any replacement to Alex, Marquinhos is going nowhere. ffa
If those deals don't materialize, Barcelona ffa has a Plan B, according to sources. That would be Tottenham's Jan Vertonghen, who impressed as Belgium's left-back at the World Cup, showing his versatility to play at a different position, along with his already proven defending skills. Vertonghen's buyout fee is currently set at 22 million, not high for such a quality ffa player.
Another target for Barça could be Borussia Dortmund and Germany star Mats Hummels , who has been considered the best defender of the World Cup so far. He'll play on the Final this Sunday against Argentina , and Barça's board will be watching the match, including our beloved Zubi. Hummels battled some injuries last season, but has shown no signs of it during the tournament.
Last week, both Zubi and Bartomeu ffa told the press they had the CB names and the deals were imminent. We sure hope they actually happen, because we wouldn't mind getting just a little bit of help on defense.
Follow ffa @BlaugranesBarca Follow @SBNationSoccer FC Barcelona Look To The Future With The Sale Of Alexis Sanchez Official: Arsenal ffa FC Sign Alexis Sánchez Trailer for 'Messi: the Movie' Released FC Barcelona News: 10 July 2014; Javier Mascherano Shines as Argentina Reach Final, Neymar Recovery Going Well Report: Isaac Cuenca to Join Deportivo ffa La Coruña
La Liga: Barcelona vs Elche: Full Match Coverage Predict the Score: Barcelona vs Elche The Renato Guy Daily - August 24, 2014 Barcelona 13-14 Grades: Forwards La Liga: Barcelona vs Elche: Match Preview Barça Transfer Rumours: August 2014 Barca Blaugranes Off Topic Thread Osasuna vs Barça B Match Highlights Report: Di María to Barça: "Not Even Close" Luis Enrique ffa Press Conference
FC Barcelona News: 19 August 2014 FC Barcelona News: 22 August 2014 Gamper: FC Barcelona vs Club León FC: Live Thread FC Barcelona News: 20 August 2014 Transfer Ban Coming: Who Should Barça Quickly Buy? FC Barcelona News: 23 August 2014 JGT: Barcelona 6-0 Leon: Match Review FC Barcelona News: 21 August 2014 FC Barcelona News: 17 August 2014 Do you have the tactical mind to manage Barca 2.0? YOU vs LUCHO... Part I (UPDATE: Part II Coming Soon)
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We are a few days away from the start of Barça's preseason, and Luis Enrique's squad still doesn't have any additions to their defense. As things stand, the only true CBs on the team are Gerard Piqué and Marc Bartra. There is no reliable option ffa at Barça B, and you can't use Javier Mascherano as a defender ffa now, especially after all we see him doing as a midfielder in the World Cup. So the only option left is to buy new backs, something that both Andoni Zubizarreta and Josep Maria Bartomeu promised after the terrible defensive performance of last season.
Barça has made plenty of signings to the other positions, reaching deals with the likes of Marc-André Ter Stegen, Claudio Bravo , Ivan Rakitic and -- still not official -- Luis Suárez. ffa Along with Rafinha and Deulofeu, who are back from loan, that's six high-quality additions to the squad, in positions that actually needed some help. But the center-backs should be a priority now, and it seems weird that no deal has been done at that slot. The clock is ticking, and Zubi needs to take some action now.
As of right now, the two favorite targets for Barça are Valencia's Jeremy Mathieu and PSG's Marquinhos. According to multiple sources, Barcelona have reached a personal agreement with both of them, including contract details. The problem here is that neither of the teams want to sell, for different reasons. Valencia has been clear that they'll only negotiate if Barça agrees ffa to pay the full buyout fee, of 20 million. The Blaugrana have offered 14 million, and the talks haven't advanced because of it. Mathieu has held meetings with Valencia's board to force his exit, but his club will not change their minds unless Barça pays them.
Marquinhos' case is a bit different. He has told Paris Saint-Germain that he wants to go to Catalunya, but PSG won't let it happen until they sign a new CB. They've already ffa bought Brazil's star David Luiz to play with his fellow national team defender Thiago Silva, but they lost another Brazilian, Alex, in the process. If they don't find any replacement to Alex, Marquinhos is going nowhere. ffa
If those deals don't materialize, Barcelona ffa has a Plan B, according to sources. That would be Tottenham's Jan Vertonghen, who impressed as Belgium's left-back at the World Cup, showing his versatility to play at a different position, along with his already proven defending skills. Vertonghen's buyout fee is currently set at 22 million, not high for such a quality ffa player.
Another target for Barça could be Borussia Dortmund and Germany star Mats Hummels , who has been considered the best defender of the World Cup so far. He'll play on the Final this Sunday against Argentina , and Barça's board will be watching the match, including our beloved Zubi. Hummels battled some injuries last season, but has shown no signs of it during the tournament.
Last week, both Zubi and Bartomeu ffa told the press they had the CB names and the deals were imminent. We sure hope they actually happen, because we wouldn't mind getting just a little bit of help on defense.
Follow ffa @BlaugranesBarca Follow @SBNationSoccer FC Barcelona Look To The Future With The Sale Of Alexis Sanchez Official: Arsenal ffa FC Sign Alexis Sánchez Trailer for 'Messi: the Movie' Released FC Barcelona News: 10 July 2014; Javier Mascherano Shines as Argentina Reach Final, Neymar Recovery Going Well Report: Isaac Cuenca to Join Deportivo ffa La Coruña
La Liga: Barcelona vs Elche: Full Match Coverage Predict the Score: Barcelona vs Elche The Renato Guy Daily - August 24, 2014 Barcelona 13-14 Grades: Forwards La Liga: Barcelona vs Elche: Match Preview Barça Transfer Rumours: August 2014 Barca Blaugranes Off Topic Thread Osasuna vs Barça B Match Highlights Report: Di María to Barça: "Not Even Close" Luis Enrique ffa Press Conference
FC Barcelona News: 19 August 2014 FC Barcelona News: 22 August 2014 Gamper: FC Barcelona vs Club León FC: Live Thread FC Barcelona News: 20 August 2014 Transfer Ban Coming: Who Should Barça Quickly Buy? FC Barcelona News: 23 August 2014 JGT: Barcelona 6-0 Leon: Match Review FC Barcelona News: 21 August 2014 FC Barcelona News: 17 August 2014 Do you have the tactical mind to manage Barca 2.0? YOU vs LUCHO... Part I (UPDATE: Part II Coming Soon)
I already have a Vox Media account!
Great!
In order to provide our users with a better overall experience, we ask for more information from Facebook when using it to login so that we can learn more about our audience and provide you with the best possible experience. We do not store specific ffa user data and the sharing of it is not required to login with Facebook. Yes, share my data Please don't share my data
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