Transfer Rumour: Barcelona plotting January move for Marcelo

Barcelona have reportedly set their sights on Lyon defender Marcelo, and are set to make a move for the Brazilian this month.

According to a report by Tribal Football, Barcelona have been monitoring the performances of Lyon defender Marcelo on a consistent basis this season. The Blaugrana are believed to be weighing up a move for the Brazilian to replace Javier Mascherano, who will be moving to China this month.

Marcelo has been a journeyman of sorts in his decade-long senior footballing career, having started off at boyhood club Santos in 2008. Over the last ten years, the player has represented six different clubs, but it was at Besiktas where he finally blossomed into a reliable centre-back.

After nearly eighteen months at the Turkish club, the 30-year-old completed a move to Lyon last summer, and he has been nothing short of a revelation. Marcelo has played all but one game for the Ligue 1 heavyweights, solidifying his status as a mainstay in Bruno Genesio’s side, while also being entrusted with the captaincy in the absence of Nabil Fekir.

But, his stint with Lyon could end after just six months, with one of the biggest clubs in the world circling around the defender. Barcelona are eager to sign a centre-back in the winter transfer window, and Marcelo’s exploits seem to have caught their eye.

Barcelona are bracing themselves for the departure of Javier Mascherano, who is set to end his glittering spell at Camp Nou to complete a move to the Chinese Super League this month. The Argentine’s exit would leave the Blaugrana with Gerard Pique, Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen as the only senior options at Ernesto Valverde’s disposal.

With Umtiti nursing a hamstring injury that will keep him sidelined for at least the rest of January, and Vermaelen’s fitness situation being uncertain, the Barcelona manager’s need to bolster his central defensive options has accentuated, especially with Marlon Santos not considered ready enough for the first-team setup.

Barcelona have also been linked with a move for Yerry Mina, but the Colombian is only likely to arrive after the World Cup in Russia. Marcelo is, thus, a viable option to consider for the Catalan club who, at 30, could be a short-term solution for Valverde & co.

As far as the player is concerned, a chance to move to one of the biggest clubs in the world might be too good to refuse, and we might just see him leave for Nou Camp without completing one full season at Lyon. It now remains to be seen if the transfer sees the light of the day, with Barcelona likely to attempt to land one of their prime targets before turning to Marcelo.