Barcelona will reportedly consider signing 31-year-old Brighton & Hove Albion utility man Joel Veltman in a Bosman move this summer.
According to Spanish outlet Futbol Total, Joel Veltman is the subject of interest from Barcelona. The Catalan giants want to sign the 31-year-old utility man in a Bosman move in the summer transfer window. Meanwhile, the experienced defender might leave Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion as a free agent.
Joel Veltman has gone from strength to strength since joining Brighton & Hove Albion from Ajax in July 2020. A former Ajax captain, the Dutch international has been a utility man for the Seagulls, reprising roles as a right-back, centre-back, and defensive midfielder. But he has largely excelled as a right-back.
The 31-year-old has turned out over 100 times for Brighton, chipping in with three goals and three assists. But Veltman’s contract situation has left the Premier League club in a spot of bother, as he has entered the final months of his contract. Such a situation has captured the attention of Barcelona.
Joan Laporta has asserted that Barcelona will delve into the market for a right-back in the summer transfer window. The Catalan giants have failed to identify the true heir to Dani Alves for several years. But Laporta intends to end the club’s right-back woes ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Several players, including Benjamin Pavard, have thus popped up on Barcelona’s radar. And Joel Veltman is also a viable target for the Blaugrana heading into the summer transfer window. That the 31-year-old utility man might be available as a free agent makes him an attractive prospect.
In addition, the Dutchman can play as a centre-back and a defensive midfielder, adding to his allure. So Barcelona will consider signing the Brighton defender in a Bosman move if he leaves the Premier League club as a free agent.
But several other right-backs, including Noussair Mazraoui, are also on Barcelona’s radar. And it will be interesting to see who the Catalan giants pursue to finally end their right-back woes in the summer transfer window. For now, Veltman has emerged as a viable candidate to bolster the Barcelona squad.