The aim for FC Barcelona moving forward remains to improve their squad in a cost-efficient way. Years of misspending and mismanagement have put them in enough trouble as it is, but the club can only work on avoiding any future mishaps. To do that, however, Barcelona has a plan to mainly pursue certain types of players.
One of those types is young players who are seen as market opportunities but are also great sporting prospects. That is the way that the club managed to secure the signings of the likes of Pedri, Ronald Araujo, and other talents in the first place over the last few years.
Now, moreover, they continue that trend by following promising youngsters across Europe and even across other continents. From the attack all the way to the back line, there are no restrictions on what kind of youngsters to follow as long as they fit what the club is looking for.
Their latest target, as highlighted by SPORT, seems to be a certain 20-year-old defender from RB Salzburg. That player would be the Austrian sentinel Samson Baidoo, whose performances for his club have attracted the attention of top European sides such as Barcelona and Manchester City.
For Barça, he is a player who presents a great market opportunity given the kind of potential he holds. A strong and tall defender, he mixes physical presence with a great ball-playing ability adding to his variety of talents. A complete package in terms of the qualities he brings to the table, it comes as no surprise that Barcelona are interested in his services.
Furthermore, the club recognizes that Austrian football has truly stepped up in recent times when it comes to developing top talents. The likes of Erling Haaland, Sadio Mane, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Karim Adeyemi are just a few of the names that can be mentioned as proof of this. Baidoo, however, is just the latest name to catch Barça’s eye.
Similarly, however, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City is reportedly hot on his trail as well. While both the Catalan giants and the team from England are allowing the player enough space to grow and continue developing, they are equally eager to pounce on the first proper chance to sign him and secure his talents if possible.
Currently valued at €8 million, he is seen as a player who would not cost much right now but there is an expectation that this valuation of his will only continue to rise given the kind of opportunities and stages that he may be exposed to in this ongoing campaign.
With Salzburg competing in the Champions League this season and the player’s presence being crucial for the team in their domestic campaign, this could become a long battle for Barcelona, Manchester City, and reportedly even the likes of Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham Hotspur, and even Newcastle United.
