Barcelona are reportedly eyeing a move to sign Pol Lirola from Juventus in the summer.
Spanish publication Sport have reported that Pol Lirola is the subject of interest from Barcelona. The Catalan club are considering a move to land the Spanish defender from Juventus in the summer transfer window.
Lirola progressed through the ranks at Espanyol before joining Juventus’ youth setup in 2015. After spending one season with the Bianconeri’s under-19 side, the Spaniard was sent on loan to Sassuolo last summer, with Dani Alves and Stephan Lichtsteiner firmly established on the right-side of the Juventus first-team defence.
With the Neroverdi, though, Lirola has gained some valuable first-team experience in 2016/17, having played 22 Serie A games in addition to featuring in each of their Europa League group stage matches as well.
And it was in two of the aforementioned Europa League games in which Lirola managed to make a big impression on a manager who is now at the helm at Barcelona.
Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic Bilbao played two Group F matches against Sassuolo, and while they won both the games with a cumulative scoreline of 6-2, the teenager was impressive for the Italian side.
MD:
Barcelona is interested in Juventus RB Pol Lirola (19). The player would cost around 10m euros and is an alternative to Bellerin/Semedo. pic.twitter.com/qjPzqIbBrs— M·A·J (@UltraAutistic) June 3, 2017
Valverde was recently appointed as the Barcelona manager, where the right-back slot has proven to be a major problem area over the course of the season, following Dani Alves’ departure from Camp Nou last summer.
Aleix Vidal, who was touted to be the Brazilian’s replacement, was highly unimpressive due to his inconsistent performances, which forced Luis Enrique to deploy midfielder Sergi Roberto as the makeshift right-back for the majority of the campaign.
While the 25-year-old managed to be consistent, his inexperience in the position has showed from time to time. The Blaugranas are, thus, eager to reinforce the right-back slot this summer and, as per the report, they have turned their attention towards Lirola.
The teenager displayed all the qualities that Barcelona need in their right-back, as he is comfortable on the ball while also possessing a smart positioning sense. And at 19, he can be the long-term solution on the right side of the Catalans’ defence.
The player, meanwhile, has a chance to be the true heir to Dani Alves at Camp Nou should he continue to develop at an impressive rate, although Juventus also see him as the Brazilian’s long-term replacement.
The report, meanwhile, suggests that an offer of €10 million should be enough to prise Lirola away from Juventus, making him a cheaper alternative to two of Barcelona’s primary reported targets – Hector Bellerin and Nelson Semedo. It now remains to be seen if Barcelona are able to bring the teenager back to Catalonia this summer.
