Barcelona will reportedly have to cough up €20 million to secure the services of 23-year-old Brazilian right-back Dodo in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Brazilian outlet UOL, Shakhtar Donetsk will demand €20 million to part ways with Dodo in the summer transfer window. The Brazilian right-back is a target for Barcelona amid uncertainties surrounding the futures of Dani Alves and Sergino Dest.
Dodo has come leaps and bounds since joining Shakhtar Donetsk from Coritiba in January 2018. The 23-year-old has turned out 97 times thus far for the Ukrainian giants, chipping in with five goals and 17 assists. But his future at the club level is up in the air due to Ukraine’s conflict with Russia, with football in the country coming to a grinding halt.
The Brazilian right-back is back in his homeland right now but could be set to embark on a new adventure in the summer transfer window. Widely compared to the legendary Dani Alves, Dodo could be Barcelona’s long-sought successor to the veteran defender, with the Blaugrana recently joining the race to sign him.
The interest from Barcelona stems from the uncertainties surrounding the futures of Dani Alves and Sergino Dest. Alves is yet to receive a contract extension from the Blaugrana and could depart from Camp Nou for a second time, less than a year since sealing a popular return.
As for Dest, the USMNT international has failed to convince Xavi Hernandez that he should have a long-term future with Barcelona. With both the right-backs having their futures up in the air, Barcelona will need to delve into the market for at least one right-back in the summer transfer window.
To that end, Cesar Azpilicueta is one of the targets for the Blaugrana, with the Chelsea captain keen on moving to Camp Nou. And Dodo has now emerged on Barcelona’s radar, with the 23-year-old potentially a solution for the long run for Barcelona. The Catalan giants now know how much they will have to shell out to land the Brazilian right-back, with Shakhtar Donetsk demanding €20 million for him.
Despite their financial struggles, Barcelona should be able to afford to pay €20 million, especially if Sergino Dest leaves. But the report does not mention whether Barcelona will be open to shelling out such a sum, and it will be interesting to see if the Catalan heavyweights firm up their interest in the 23-year-old.
