Barcelona Linked With Surprise January Move For Defender

Barcelona might be one of the best teams in the world going forward but they have some issues at the back right now with injuries mounting up. Now they're being linked with a couple of surprise targets.

When you've got Lionel Messi in your team then you don't really have to worry about what's going on at the back as much because, well your strength is up front so just score more goals than the opposition.

In theory it's what Jose Mourinho should be doing at Manchester United, if your defence is weak then don't play defensively, simple enough. But enough about United.

Barcelona are pretty stacked going forward and have been for several years but at the back they've certainly had their issues. Behind Gerard Pique there hasn't been too much strength.

In the last couple of years they've tried to stop the issues with signings, Samuel Umtiti being the most impressive of the group but the Frenchman is currently injured, as is Belgian Thomas Vermaelen.

The Catalan giants are eyeing up some big signings and really want Ajax youngster Matthijs de Ligt but are aware he won't be available till the summer.

According to Mundo Deportivo the La Liga champions have a few January targets in mind for the short term, with Branislav Ivanovic and Dejan Lovren on their radar.

Dejan Lovren is reportedly a target for Barca. Image: PA Images

Lovren was an important part of Liverpool's first team last season and improved as the season went on once he was paired with Virgil van Dijk.

However since coming back from the World Cup in the summer, where he helped Croatia get to the final, he has been injured and only played one Premier League game and one Carabao Cup game whilst Joe Gomez has become Van Dijk's new partner.

Ivanovic now plays for Zenit. Image: PA Images

At 34 Ivanovic would be a short term fix but the Serbian defender would bring a lot of experience and could be available from Zenit.

It's certain that no matter who they sign in January the Catalans would be looking to add another player in the summer with De Ligt the most obvious candidate, if they can beat the competition.

It would certainly be a surprise to see Lovren or Ivanovic at the Camp Nou but don't rule it out.

Topics: Football News, Dejan Lovren, Barcelona, Samuel Umtiti, Spain, La Liga

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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