Barca will try to sign a whole defence for free

Martin Macdonald

• 2 Mar 2022 09:07 GMT
• 4 min read

Barcelona have mostly been shopping in the free transfer market over the last 12 months due to the unstable financial situation at the club.

In the summer of 2021, Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia all arrived as free agents.

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Though Barca would spend money in the 2022 January transfer window, only Ferran Torres was brought in for a significant fee as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang didn't cost anything, while Adama Traore was signed initially on loan.

Football is now in an age where some of the most high-profile players in the world are becoming free agents to move clubs.

Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos were two such players in 2021, while this upcoming summer we could see the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogba and Paulo Dybala leave their respective clubs for free.

Barcelona will target defensive recruits this summer as Xavi looks to add more steel to the backline.

Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba are trusted members of the first team squad, but neither are getting any younger, while the same can be said for Dani Alves.

Therefore, Barca are looking to sign no less than FOUR defenders as free agents, with three of them arriving this summer.

Andreas Christensen

Andreas Christensen has been linked with moves to Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund but new reports from Spain suggest that the player is now 99 percent certain to opt for a move to the Camp Nou in the summer.

Chelsea are still working tirelessly to get him to sign an extended deal at Stamford Bridge, but negotiations are at a stand still currently.

Cesar Azpilicueta

It seems as though Barca will perform a double whammy on Chelsea this summer by not only scooping up Christensen but also right-back Cesar Azpilicueta.

While nothing is certain just yet, the Spaniard has reportedly been offered a long-term deal at Barca and could be tempted to trade in his diminishing role in London for a leading one at Barcelona.

Though he usually plays as a wing-back or on the right of a back three for Chelsea, it is believed Barca would utilise him as a centre-back in a back four.

Noussair Mazraoui

Very much in the mould of a modern full-back, Noussair Mazraoui excels in the attacking side of the game.

A new right-back is desired at Barca due to Alves' age, while there are doubts over Sergino Dest's suitability to the team.

Even though no new contract has been agreed which will likely lead to him leaving as a free agent, Mazraoui remains a key player under Erik ten Hag.

Jose Gaya

The most complicated deal out of the four surrounds Valencia left-back Jose Gaya, as the Spaniard is not actually out of contract in 2022, but in 2023.

He could still arrive for free ahead of the 2023/24 season, but it is actually the player's desire to leave this summer not only to gain a big move, but also so that Valencia can receive a fee.

Should Barcelona want to sign him this summer, they will likely need to pay around €12 million.

Other left-backs that are reported targets are Nicolas Tagliafico and Alex Grimaldo.