- 20 hours ago
Forget Dalot, Barca have a Plan B at right-back
FT Desk
- 6 Nov 2022 14:15 GMT
- 3 min read
Barcelona want Diogo Dalot to be their primary right-back at Camp Nou, but Manchester United have an option to extend his contract by another year this summer.
Dalot is technically out of contract as of 30 June 2023, meaning he could discuss terms on a Bosman transfer with clubs outside of England from January.
But United have the option to extend his contract by a further season, one they are likely to take up with the Portuguese having become undisputed first choice at Old Trafford under Erik ten Hag.
READ: Man Utd's January transfer plans revealed
Barca are in the market for a right-back and a defensive midfielder, with the injury-prone Hector Bellerin just a stop-gap in the former position and long-time midfield metronome Sergio Busquets vacating the latter at the end of the season.
Watch out for Arnau Martinez - one of the best young talents in Spain 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/j5MDBkqBPA
— Freddie Dean (@FLDFootball) September 18, 2022
But if Barca can't sign Dalot, they have a Plan B up their sleeve in the shape of promising Girona defender Arnau Martinez, according to Catalan daily newspaper Ara.
"[Barcelona] plan to take advantage of the break in play during the World Cup to study market movements," they write. "As far as right-back is concerned, one of the names they are probing most seriously is Arnau Martinez."
READ: Messi and Barcelona camps meet for transfer talks
"[They] like his attacking play, competitive nature and his versatility - he can play full-back or in the middle - and for his defensive fundamentals, taking into account that he is only 19 years old."
How good is Martinez?
Martinez may be able to play centre-back, but he does his best work at the other end of the field, averaging three shot-creating actions per 90 minutes over the last year - no mean feat when playing for the unfancied Girona.
He had six assists as Michel's side were promoted to La Liga last season, and is capped up to under-21 level with Spain. Martinez is also on Luis Enrique's long-list to make the full squad at the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.
