Deco admires World Cup-winning defender but has other options ready for Barcelona’s centre-back hunt

Deco admires World Cup-winning defender but has other options ready for Barcelona’s centre-back hunt The shock departure of Ronald Araujo from Barcelona to Liverpool shocked the world, especially given how it was a move that appeared out of the blue. As matters stand, the Uruguayan star has already travelled to England for his medicals with the Merseyside club willing to pay out his full salary during his loan stint. The development thus arrives as a massive boost to Barcelona’s plans, although it does leave them an option short in the department. Deco and Co. are busy scouting the market on that front. One admired option As confirmed by MARCA in a recent report, Aymeric Laporte is an option Deco and Hansi Flick truly admire, and the club have made contact with him in the past. Deco admires Laporte. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images) There are currently no active negotiations with the Spanish national team defender, and the only interaction between Barcelona and the veteran was during the FIFA World Cup. Barcelona, however, continue to monitor him and see him as a potential target to join Pau Cubarsi in central defence. After all, the pair made an impenetrable wall for La Roja at the World Cup. Deco has other options The Spanish outlet further relay that Laporte is not Deco and Barcelona’s only option for the summer and that the club have a long list of targets. Who will partner Cubarsi next season? (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) Castello Lukeba, Cristian Romero, William Saliba, and Lucas Herrington are all options Barcelona have considered, and the club are monitoring all their situations this summer. Beyond that, however, Deco reportedly also has other secret cards up his sleeve which have not been revealed yet. They will come to light in the course of time if the club finds a need to push for one of their signings. As matters stand, Barcelona’s main priorities are the signings of Rodri and Julian Alvarez. The central defence is equally as important, but the club will likely begin serious work on that front once some departures can be completed. Ferran Torres, Roony Bardghji and Marc Casado are the stars currently linked with departures, and the fee generated from the sales may well dictate Barcelona’s target.