La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are reportedly poised to initiate discussions to land 31-year-old Spanish centre-back Inigo Martinez.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, talks over a January move for Inigo Martinez will soon open. The winter transfer window will be the final chance for Athletic Club to recoup something from the Spanish centre-back’s sale. And €15 million might be enough for Barcelona to land the experienced defender.
Inigo Martinez is the old workhorse of La Liga, with the 31-year-old making a name for himself at midtable clubs. The Spaniard has represented Real Sociedad and Athletic Club in his professional career, with his best years coming with the latter.
A mainstay at the back for Athletic Club, the Spanish centre-back has made 239 appearances thus far, chipping in with 17 goals and eight assists. But the Basque giants are in a spot of bother over Martinez’s long-term future as he is in the final year of his contract. And a January exit could be on the cards, with Barcelona keen on signing him.
Barcelona considered signing Martinez in the summer transfer window, but a move did not materialise. The failure to land the 31-year-old did not matter much at the time either as Jules Kounde and Andreas Christensen had arrived at Spotify Camp Nou. But the interest in the player has persisted in the past month.
With Gerard Pique in the twilight of his career and showing signs of regression, Barcelona will have to bring in a replacement. Martinez has thus emerged as a viable target for the Blaugrana. And the Spanish centre-back’s extensive experience in La Liga should be a defining factor in making him a top target.
Recent reports have claimed that the Catalan giants want to sign Martinez in the January transfer window. And the report by Fichajes claims that Barcelona and Athletic Club will soon open talks over a winter move. The experienced defender will not be an expensive acquisition either, with €15 million likely being enough to secure his services.
Personal terms should not be an issue either, with Barcelona already having a verbal agreement with him. It will be interesting to see if the Blaugrana will be open to shelling out €15 million to sign the 31-year-old Spanish centre-back in January.
