Barcelona will wait until the summer of 2027 to move for €60 million-rated defensive target

Barcelona will wait until the summer of 2027 to move for €60 million-rated defensive target One of the worst-kept secrets in football is that Barcelona desperately need a new central defender to bolster Hansi Flick’s squad. Their recent defensive struggles against PSG and Real Madrid have brought that situation back into the limelight. With Ronald Araujo and Alvaro Cortes leaving in the summer, it is rather inexplicable that the Catalans did not address this position in the market. Now, according to SPORT , Barça are seriously interested in Stuttgart defender Finn Jeltsch and could make a move for him in the summer of 2027. A January move for the German youngster had been touted , but feels unrealistic. However, the Catalans continue to monitor him with a view towards the future. Barcelona eye summer move for Finn Jeltsch The 20-year-old has emerged as one of Germany’s most promising defenders, establishing himself at Stuttgart since joining from Nuremberg in 2025. Jeltsch has already featured 61 times for the Bundesliga team, with his impressive development also earning him a senior call-up. Barça have sent scouts to monitor his performances , and Hansi Flick is said to be a huge fan of the move. Finn Jeltsch featured in first team training for Germany recently. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) However, Stuttgart value the young defender at around €60 million. With his contract running until 2030, the German club can afford to call the shots in negotiations. Barcelona’s substantial spending back in the summer has limited their ability to spend much in January, making this a very tricky operation for the winter transfer window. Flick faces competition for highly-rated defender Jeltsch is a particularly appealing option for Barcelona because of how well he suits Flick’s tactical system. His mobility, positional awareness and comfort playing out from the back make him an interesting option for the German manager. However, the Catalans are not alone in their interest. As is always the case with a young German talent, Bayern Munich are attentive to the situation. Barcelona should go for a more experienced centre-back partner to Pau Cubarsi. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal have also been linked with a move for the 20-year-old. Barcelona now need to analyse whether spending such a substantial amount on an unproven centre-back is the best use of their resources. In Pau Cubarsi, the club already have a hugely talented centre-back for the next decade, and they may be better off going for someone more experienced in January. A new central defender is the need of the hour at Barcelona, and it remains to be seen how Deco goes about this in the winter transfer window.