La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are reportedly weighing up signing 28-year-old Portuguese international Raphael Guerreiro in a Bosman move next year.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Raphael Guerreiro is the subject of interest from Barcelona over a possible move. The Catalan giants are deliberating between offering a cut-price fee to Borussia Dortmund in the summer transfer window and pursuing the Portuguese international for a Bosman move in 2023.
Raphael Guerreiro has established himself as one of the best left-backs in Europe since joining Borussia Dortmund from FC Lorient in July 2016. While the 28-year-old has suffered from injury issues in the last half a dozen years, he has overcome those problems while producing top-class performances.
Guerreiro has been reasonably solid this term, amassing five goals and four assists in 27 appearances across. But the Portuguese international’s Borussia Dortmund contract runs out next year, which has left his future up in the air amid rumours of an impending squad overhaul at Signal Iduna Park. Such a situation has captured the attention of Barcelona.
Barcelona will likely sign a left-back in the summer transfer window, as Jordi Alba is well into his thirties. The veteran Spanish international’s performance levels have invariably taken a hit, prompting Barcelona to invest in a left-back who could compete with him at the very least.
With Alejandro Balde yet to settle down in the first-team setup at Camp Nou, the need to sign a left-back has accentuated. Guerreiro has thus emerged as a viable target for Barcelona amid reports that they will be prioritising a summer move for Marcos Alonso.
Recent reports have also claimed that the Catalan giants will soon open talks with Chelsea for Alonso. But Guerreiro could be a better, younger alternative to Alonso for Barcelona to consider, given his output in the final third and better defensive ability. The La Liga heavyweights are now deliberating between pursuing a move this summer and waiting till next year to sign him in a Bosman move.
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The decision to wait for a year might come back to haunt Barcelona if Alba’s regression becomes steeper. But a Bosman move in 2023 could be a distinct possibility, and it will be interesting to see what the Catalan giants decide in the coming weeks.
