The Croatian captain is set to join the Blaugranas in January on loan according to Spanish reports
Luis Enrique’s desperate hunt for a right-back seems finally close to a conclusion with reports in Spain suggesting a deal for Shaktar Donetsk’s defender Darijo Srna is on the verge of completion.
Spanish newspaper, AS (h/t Goal) has claimed the veteran Croatian full-back is set to join the Catalan giants in the upcoming transfer window in January on temporary basis until the end of season.
The loan move will enable Barcelona to secure the signing of Darijo Srna on a free transfer as the defender’s current contract with Shaktar Donetsk ends in June 2017.
The report states Srna had expressed his desire to leave Ukraine for sometime and as such, Barcelona’s technical secretary Robert Fernandez kept in touch with the player with a view for a move while still exploring the other viable options for the right-back position.
Barcelona’s pursuit for a right-back to deputize the reinvigorated Sergi Roberto has been well documented, with the reigning La Liga champions preferring a move for Valencia’s highly rated Jaoa Cancelo, but the price tag slapped on the player deterred the club into considering other low-cost options.
Branislav Ivanovic, Stephen Lichtsteiner and Ignazio Abate were said to be among the other shortlisted candidates to replace the out-of-favour Aleix Vidal, who might be on his way out as soon as in January, as confirmed by his agent.
There were doubts over Darijo Srna’s fitness, with the defender on the wrong side of thirties at the age of 34, but it seems the club have decided to take the gamble after considering the invaluable experience (over 600 professional games played in his career) the Croatian international could bring to the relatively young Barcelona back-line, which has been exposed a fair few times this season. It does seem a win-win situation for both the club and the player.
