FC Barcelona know that their season seems all but lost at the moment. La Blaugrana have already lost out on two of the four competitions they were competing in this season. Moreover, even winning La Liga seems too distant a dream for Barcelona right now despite still being mathematically possible.
Thus, the planning for next season has already begun within the camps of Barcelona. The higher-ups within the club want to ensure stable and sustainable progression moving forward, something that can simultaneously also yield results and allow Barcelona to compete like themselves again.
As such, while keeping in mind their financial limitations, Barcelona are shortlisting potential future arrivals. One of the players shortlisted, according to Gerard Romero, is none other than Spanish defender Mario Hermoso, who just happens to be currently contracted to fellow La Liga side Atletico Madrid.
Aged 28, Hermoso is a player that Romero states Barcelona have been considering for quite some time. Having arrived at Atletico Madrid in 2019, Hermoso is one of their key defenders.
However, even though his market value of €25 million is not high by itself, he could be a free agent in the summer as his contract expires in June of this year.
Able to play as both a central defender as well as a left-back, his versatility would be quite useful to Barcelona. With Marcos Alonso, a player who typically plays the exact same positions, expected to depart in the summer, Hermoso is by no means a bad direct replacement for the possibly departing former Chelsea man.
Left-footed naturally, Hermoso would provide Barcelona with a player who would naturally have an edge playing either on the left flank or as the left-sided center-back. Barcelona already have Inigo Martinez for the latter, but having some depth and competition for Alejandro Balde is something that the Blaugranes desperately need.
Beyond just Hermoso, however, other players and positions are being considered too. Barcelona also want to reinforce and bring in a specialist pivot for their team, as it remains arguably one of their most glaring vulnerabilities in transition and building from the back.
