Barcelona in contact with Premier League defender’s camp; player prioritises playing in Spain

Barcelona in contact with Premier League defender’s camp; player prioritises playing in Spain The centre-back position is one department where Barcelona have not seen nearly enough transfer links in, and surprisingly so given how it has been labelled as a priority operation for a long time. Inigo Martinez’s departure last season left a void that simply was not filled in all of last season, and to this day, Pau Cubarsi remains the only guaranteed starter in central defence for Hansi Flick. The club have had their share of superficial links, with Nico Schlotterbeck and Alessandro Bastoni standing out as some of the initial candidates linked. In recent weeks, Aymeric Laporte and Cristian Romero have been some of the names mentioned as potential targets. Romero’s situation explained As relayed by Matteo Moretto on Radio MARCA in a recent update, Romero’s priority is to play in Spain and the player prioritises options from La Liga on that front. Barcelona, in that sense, are well placed to land him should they make it a priority. When will Deco prioritise the defence? (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) Currently, Barcelona have shown interest and remain in touch with his entourage over a potential transfer. However, his signing is not currently labelled as a ‘priority’ as the club see other positions as matters of higher focus. It is likely that the Blaugrana will take more interest and show urgency in the centre-back department once they arrive at a final conclusion on the centre-forward department. A harbinger of experience Romero’s current contract with Tottenham Hotspur runs until the summer of 2029 and he only signed a new deal last season. However, he is pushing for a departure and Inter Milan are said to be leading the race currently. Romero is looking for a way out of Spurs. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) At 28 years of age, the Argentine star brings experience to the table – something Barcelona have lacked at the back since Martinez’s exit. As a World Cup winner and runner-up in successive editions, he has also proven to be reliable under pressure and can be a vocal leader in defence. The idea of pairing him with Cubarsi, needless to say, paints a perfect picture on paper and it is difficult to imagine a scenario where the combination does not work out. But, unless there is a departure, Barcelona unlikely to make a move for the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner.