Barcelona are reportedly considering a move for Torino and Italy striker Andrea Belotti in the upcoming January transfer window.
According to a report from Catalan publication SPORT, Barcelona are looking at Torino’s 27-year-old hitman Andrea Belotti as a potential transfer target to strengthen their frontline in the winter window.
Belotti has been with Torino since the summer of 2015, when he arrived from Palermo. During his time with the Granata, the Italian striker has developed into one of the most consistent goalscorers in the Italian top-flight, bagging 106 goals and 26 assists in 231 appearances. A regular for the Italian national team, he has 12 goals to his name from 39 caps.
Belotti’s future at Torino, however, has been a subject of intense transfer speculation for a long while now. The 27-year-old entered the final year of his contract with the Serie A outfit and had been linked with a move to several clubs in Italy and Europe during the summer. But a move failed to materialise.
Having stayed put at the club, Belotti made two league appearances this term, scoring one goal before picking up an injury. Currently sidelined, the Italian is yet to reach a resolution over his contract situation with Torino and Barcelona are hoping to capitalise on the situation by making a January swoop.
The Catalans are in the market for new attacking signings after having lost Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann during the summer. Luuk de Jong, Memphis Depay and Sergio Aguero all arrived at Camp Nou, but apart from Depay, there doesn’t seem to be another quality option in the No. 9 slot.
Aguero has been sidelined with an injury since arriving and is yet to kick a ball. Given his struggles with fitness at Manchester City last season as well, he is hardly proving to be a reliable option. De Jong, meanwhile, has hardly shown the quality needed of a Barcelona player. With Martin Braithwaite also injured and inconsistent, it bodes well for Barcelona to sign a new centre-forward.
Given the finances, they are said to be particularly targeting a player whose contract runs out next year as such a striker would be available on the cheap in January. Liverpool’s Divock Origi is being considered by Barcelona as are Edinson Cavani of Manchester United and Lorenzo Insigne of Napoli as well.
Along with them, Belotti too has emerged as a target on the Blaugrana’s radar. The 27-year-old, who is a target for Arsenal as well, has the potential to be a solid signing for Barcelona. It remains to be seen if they do make a move for the Torino striker or look elsewhere to bolster their attack.
