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Barcelona Compile Shortlist Of Defenders For January Window, Want One For His Champions League Experience

Barcelona Compile Shortlist Of Defenders For January Window, Want One For His Champions League Experience

Barcelona are looking ahead to the rest of the season and have a shortlist of temporary defenders to cover Samuel Umtiti in case of injury.

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz

Ernesto Valverde's Barcelona side are off to a flying start to their La Liga title defence and are making staggering progress in the Champions League, too.

However, the 54-year-old Spaniard is also wary of the injuries that he could face and the uncertain future of Samuel Umtiti, who has recently returned to training after some time on the sideline.

The Spanish club is unsure if the 24-year-old French centre-back will need any kind of surgery for the long term, which could rule him out for even more time this season.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barça are keen to avoid any problems that could manifest and have already started to look at experienced centre-backs they could move for in January.

The dream target for the reigning La Liga champions would be Ajax's highly rated Matthijs de Ligt, with reports suggesting last month that Barcelona had already entered into negotiations with the Dutch club.

If that move fails to materialise in January, then Barcelona would turn their attention to temporary cover for the backline and a player who has 'knowledge of the Champions League.'

PA

One of the names to emerge on their radar is former Chelsea star Branislav Ivanović.

The 34-year-old Serbian, who can play either centre-back or right-back, has been playing for Zenit Saint Petersburg since 2017 and has made 50 appearances for the Russian club.

Mundo Deportivo reports that other names that have emerged on Barça's shortlist include Juventus' Medhi Benatia, Napoli's Raúl Albiol, Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny and Lokomotiv Moscow's Benedikt Höwedes and Vedran Ćorluka.

PA

Other targets mentioned are Beşiktaş' Domagoj Vida, Nice's Dante, Chelsea's David Luiz, Saint-Étienne's Neven Subotić and Timothée Kolodziejczak, Marseille's Adil Rami and Lille's José Fonte.

Pepe, who plays at Beşiktaş, has even emerged on their shortlist, though it's unlikely the club will move for him due to his past history with Real Madrid.

Who should Barcelona sign in January?

Let us know in the comments.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football News, Football, Barcelona, Samuel Umtiti