Barcelona and Granada have reportedly reached an agreement for the transfer of former Manchester City defender Alpha Dionkou.
According to a report by Spanish publication SPORT, Alpha Dionkou is on the verge of joining Barcelona before the January transfer window shuts down. But the Senegalese defender will not play for the first team and will instead be assigned to Sergi Barjuan’s Barcelona B following the agreement of the deal between the Blaugrana and Granada.
Alpha Dionkou spent most of his formative years in Spain and England, joining Manchester City from RCD Mallorca in July 2017. In his four-year stint at Manchester City, the 20-year-old was a solid performer at the back, making 50 appearances for the Citizens’ under-23 side before joining Granada last summer.
But the Senegalese defender was immediately sent out on loan to San Fernando CD in the Primera Division RFEF, the third tier of Spanish football. Dionkou has turned out 15 times for San Fernando this season, producing several noteworthy performances thus far. But it looks like the player’s stint at San Fernando will be cut short this month, with Barcelona his next destination.
Barcelona and Granada have reached an agreement to complete Dionkou’s transfer before the January transfer window closes. But the youngster will not be joining the first team and will instead play under the tutelage of Sergi Barjuan at Barcelona B.
Xavi Hernandez already has two right-backs at his disposal in Dani Alves and Sergino Dest. And even though Dest has not convinced the Barcelona manager of his abilities and could leave the club this year, he looks set to end the season with the first team, leaving no room for a new right-back.
With Barcelona heavily linked with right-backs like Cesar Azpilicueta, Noussair Mazraoui and Thomas Meunier, it is unlikely that Dionkou will feature for the first team anytime soon, if at all, upon joining the Blaugrana. But he can still be an important member for Barcelona B in the second half of the season.
Having already become accustomed to playing in the third tier, the former Manchester City defender can help Barcelona B in their bid to secure promotion to the Segunda Division. Interestingly, Barcelona and San Fernando are currently level on points, adding another element of intrigue to the transfer.
