Barcelona Identify Manchester City Defender As Transfer Alternative This Summer

Joining the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Gundogan, Oleksandr Zinchenko’s name be added to the list of Manchester City players who have recently been linked with an exit from the Etihad Stadium.

A host of Premier League clubs such as West Ham, Leicester City and Everton have widely been reported to be targeting the £30 million-rated Ukrainian’s signature in the summer.

As it is expected that several other sides are set to join the race to sign the multifunctional defender, a latest revelation from Spain suggests that one of Europe’s biggest clubs are already on red-alert.

According to a report by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are looking for ‘alternatives’ to prime transfer target Marcos Alonso, in the event that a deal falls apart from the defender, and one name is none other than Manchester City's Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Further details suggest that while the four-time Premier League champion has been discussed in the ‘last few hours’, the truth is that he has been ‘talked about’ within the Blaugrana camp for ‘weeks’.

Oleksandr Zinchenko in Premier League action for Manchester City

It has also been stated that former Manchester City forward Ferran Torres put forth his former Etihad Stadium teammate’s name as a ‘recommendation’ for a potential new left-back recruit that Xavi Hernandez’s men can sign next season.

In addition, the report also mentions that Oleksandr Zinchenko’s name has been ‘endorsed’ heavily due to the fact that his coup would not demand a ‘great expense’ according to those at the La Liga club.

While the opportunity of playing for a great club such as Barcelona that looks like they are taking the right steps to return to their former glory has to be an enticing one, it is also worth noting that it was recently reported that the Ukrainian international would only depart Manchester City if he was offered first-team football as an out-and-out midfielder.

Xavi Barcelona

With it seeming clear that the Spanish side are on the lookout for a left-back that could perhaps emerge as the long-term successor to club legend Jordi Alba, only time will tell whether Oleksandr Zinchenko would sacrifice his wish for the sake of heading to Catalonia in the summer.