Barcelona's transfer business on the whole in the summer wasn't great, but the Blaugrana are reportedly close to landing a top target when the window opens again in January.
No, there's no word that Barca are still desperately trying to get Phillipe Coutinho to be a 'cule', the story is that Palmeiras defender Yerry Mina's arrival is pretty much a given, and it's a case of deciding whether or not to bring him in when January rolls around, or to wait until the World Cup is finished and sign him in the summer.
Image: MARCA
That's according to Catalan outlet Mundo Deportivo. Highly-rated centre-back Mina has long been linked with a move to the Nou Camp and it's said that a fee has already been agreed for the 23-year old to join next summer.
However, if manager Ernesto Valverde feels it is necessary to bring the transfer forward and add him to the ranks mid-season, Barca have the ability to do so for €1 million euros more. €10 million is the fee set for a potential summer deal, with Barca able to sign him prematurely for €9 million in January.
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The La Liga winners aren't exactly short of central defenders, with Gerard Pique, Samuel Umtiti, Javier Mascherano and Thomas Vermaelen in the ranks. But the fact that the latter is deemed surplus to requirements and can't even get a game for the B team, coupled with the departure of Jeremy Mathieu to Sporting CP in the summer, means it's probably in their best interests to bring in an extra body in the backline.
Image: PA
There's even a suggestion from Onda Cero journalist Alfredo Martinez that Barca are prepared to get rid of someone in order to sign him.
Clearly, Mina, a Colombian international, is high on Barca's radar and it's near-enough nailed on that we will be seeing in the blue and red of Barcelona. And how long fans will have to wait is up to Valverde...
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Football, Barcelona, Ernesto Valverde
