Barcelona have reportedly once again set their sights on 24-year-old Brazilian defender Caio Henrique, who is valued at €30 million by AS Monaco.
According to a report by Spanish publication AS, Barcelona are keeping tabs on Caio Henrique’s progress. In addition, the Catalan giants are already in contact with the Brazilian defender’s representatives, with AS Monaco valuing him around €30 million.
Caio Henrique began his senior footballing career at Atletico Madrid following a short spell in their youth setup. However, the Brazilian defender could never carve out a place in the first-team squad at the Wanda Metropolitano and was sold to AS Monaco in the summer of 2020 following three different loan spells away from the club.
The move to Monaco has done wonders for Henrique’s career as the 24-year-old has established himself as one of the best full-backs in Ligue 1. The player has started the 2021/22 season strongly, with seven assists already racked up in just 17 appearances. His progress has not gone unnoticed either, with Barcelona among the clubs showing an interest in him.
Barcelona are touted to be in the market for a left-back despite promoting Alejandro Balde at the onset of the new season. However, some uncertainties are surrounding the future of Jordi Alba, with recent reports suggesting that Manchester United have set their sights on him.
There is no shortage of options on Barcelona’s radar, with Jose Gaya reportedly being one of their key targets. However, recent reports have claimed that Gaya would prefer staying put at Valencia which is perhaps why the Blaugrana have turned their attention towards Henrique.
The 24-year-old is currently one of the most enterprising full-backs in Europe, and his traits would make him the ideal replacement for Alba. However, a €30 million price tag could well prove to be a stumbling block for Barcelona, who are in a financial rut at the moment.
It is still unclear whether the Catalan giants will be able to afford Henrique’s €30 million valuation, but it goes without saying that the Brazilian defender is a viable target. If they do not pursue a move for the 24-year-old, Robin Gosens might prove to be an alternative, with the German left-back among the players targeted by Barcelona.
