Barcelona are reportedly eyeing Premier League duo David Luiz and Laurent Koscielny in order to ease their recently arisen defensive crisis
According to a report by Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have continued their search for a centre-back ahead of the January transfer window. The La Liga champions have set their sights on Premier League duo David Luiz and Laurent Koscielny, who have emerged as cheap options to reinforce the heart of their defence.
Barcelona have started the 2018-19 season strongly. But, despite their early season success, there are a few issues that Ernesto Valverde is grappling with. The most bothersome of these issues is the lack of depth in the central defensive department, which has been brutally exposed by the absence of Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen.
While Vermaelen is a fringe player in the Barcelona first-team setup, his presence on the sidelines means Valverde has Gerard Pique and summer signing Clement Lenglet as his only options at the heart of the defence. With any further injuries being potentially detrimental to his side’s prospects, an urgent need for reinforcements has propped up.
To that end, the Blaugrana have been linked with a number of central defenders. But, instead of opting for a young, long-term option, Barcelona prefer signing someone who can make an immediate impact at Camp Nou in the short run.
As a result, former Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic has emerged as a viable target. But, the Catalans are keeping their options open, which has seen them turn their attention towards the Premier League, where David Luiz and Laurent Koscielny have been identified as candidates who fit the profile of targets.
Koscielny has risen in stature ever since he joined Arsenal from Lorient in the summer of 2010. Over the last eight years, he has progressed leaps and bounds, so much so that the Frenchman has been given the responsibility of leading the side over the last few years.
David Luiz, on the other hand, is a polarising figure among Premier League pundits, having impressed and frustrated in equal measure over the course of two stints with Chelsea. The arrival of Maurizio Sarri has also seen him become a regular in the Blues’ first-team setup once again, and is reportedly set to be offered a new deal by the Premier League heavyweights.
The aforementioned impending offer makes the pursuit of Luiz a complicated one, while Koscielny’s recent recovery from injury also appeals to reason as to Barcelona’s pursuit of the Arsenal superstar. But, the duo are potential viable short-term options, considering they will only be used sparingly.
A move for either Premier League superstar will also depend on Umtiti’s recovery from a knee injury. Whoever is signed will only be offered a six-month contract with an option to extend the deal by a further year. For now though, Barcelona are identifying possible reinforcement options, with Luiz and Koscielny attractive targets.
