Barcelona are reportedly lining up Bayern Munich star Kingsley Coman as a potential backup in case they fail to sign Neymar this summer.
According to a report by Spanish publication Sport, Barcelona are laying down the contingency plan in the scenario where they are unable to sign Neymar. The Spanish giants have added French forward Kingsley Coman, valued by Bayern Munich at €60 million, to the shortlist of alternatives for their former player.
All of 23, Kingsley Coman has already enjoyed a career at club level that most players yearn for. The French international has represented three of Europe’s powerhouses in PSG, Juventus and Bayern Munich, winning league titles with each of the clubs. However, it is at Bayern, where he has made most of his name.
Coman initially joined Die Roten on loan from Juventus in the summer of 2015 and has since gone on to amass nearly 150 appearances for the Bundesliga giants. Now a mainstay in attack, the player is almost always involved when fit and available. And, his progress seems to have been duly noted by Barcelona, who view him as a potential summer target.
Barcelona have bolstered their attack every summer the last few years, but have still remained ever the dependent on Lionel Messi and his exploits. The likes of Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele have failed to make the desired impacts while Antoine Griezmann has been slow to settle in at Camp Nou.
Coutinho, in particular, looks like his time at Barcelona is up and is likely to be sold once he returns from his loan spell with Bayern Munich. Indeed, the Brazilian has been linked with a return to the Premier League, with Chelsea reportedly interested in him.
As for Dembele, the French forward has been extremely unfortunate with recurring injuries and it has been reported that Barcelona are ready to cut their losses on him. To replace Coutinho and Dembele, Barcelona will need to sign at least one attacker.
To that end, Neymar has been linked with a return to Camp Nou this summer. Barcelona had been eager to sign their former player last summer as well, but a move failed to materialise. As far as this summer’s transfer window is concerned, a lot depends on whether they can reach an agreement with PSG over a transfer fee.
It has also been reported that Barcelona are not in the pinkest of health when it comes to their finances, meaning it is possible that they could look for cheaper alternatives for their prime targets, including Neymar. To that end, French star Coman is a viable target for the Blaugrana.
One downside of signing Coman, though, could be his own tryst with injuries, having struggled with his own fitness problems in recent years, much like Dembele. Nevertheless, a move for the 23-year-old will only see the light of the day if Barcelona are unable to sign Neymar and it remains to be seen how things progress as we approach the summer transfer window.
