Borussia Dortmund will likely block Thomas Meunier’s Barcelona move, handing the Blaugrana a blow in pursuit of the 30-year-old right-back.
According to a report by Spanish publication SPORT, Barcelona will unlikely sign Thomas Meunier in the ongoing transfer window. Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund are reluctant to sell the 30-year-old right-back this late in the summer as they will struggle to bring in a replacement.
Thomas Meunier joined Borussia Dortmund from Paris Saint-Germain nearly two years ago and has done well to replace Achraf Hakimi at the Signal Iduna Park. While the Belgian international has not been as influential as the Moroccan defender, he has done well to carve a place for himself in the Bundesliga club’s first-team squad.
The 30-year-old has also overcome some fitness issues, featuring 62 times for Borussia Dortmund while chipping in with three goals and seven assists. And Meunier’s exploits for the Bundesliga giants have captured the attention of Barcelona, with the Blaugrana hot on his heels for several months.
Barcelona had attempted to sign Meunier late in the January transfer window, but a move did not materialise. Meunier recently confirmed that Barcelona attempted to sign him this past winter, only for Dortmund to block the deal. And the Catalan giants have remained interested in the Belgian right-back since then.
Dani Alves departed from Camp Nou in July, while Sergino Dest does not feature prominently in Xavi Hernandez’s plans for the 2022/23 season. With the latter surplus to requirements, Barcelona will need to sign a new right-back this summer unless Xavi plans to use Ronald Araujo and Jules Kounde in the position.
Meunier has thus emerged as a viable target for Barcelona, with the Blaugrana prioritising the Borussia Dortmund right-back’s arrival this summer. But the Bundesliga giants are hesitant to lose the 30-year-old this summer as bringing in a replacement will be difficult at this stage of the summer transfer window.
Meunier might be open to joining Barcelona judging by his recent comments. But with Dortmund reluctant to sell him, a move might not materialise for the second successive transfer window. Meanwhile, Meunier’s Borussia Dortmund teammate Mateu Morey is also reportedly a target for Barcelona. But the Bundesliga giants will unlikely sell either right-back this summer.