The FC Barcelona defence, which has not been performing at the same high level as it did in the last season, is expected to undergo a significant change before the start of the next season.
Xavi’s team has suffered significantly because of the defensive fragilities several times this season. This weakness has resulted in the club being seven points below the league leaders Real Madrid and Girona, and Xavi will have to improve this key area in the second half of the season to compete with the top teams in Spain and Europe.
For the next season, the club has decided to bring Chadi Riad back, which will cost the Catalans around €3.5 million. However, with Riad’s arrival, Barcelona will have five starting centre-backs in its squad, while Eric Garcia will also return from his loan at Girona.
Thus, Barcelona will be looking to obtain some profit by selling one of its current centre-backs, and as SPORT has reported, everything indicates that Andreas Christensen would be the one leaving with a multi-million transfer.
Christensen is the most likely to be chosen for a sale as he has a high demand in the Premier League, with Manchester United and Newcastle United being the most active pursuers of the Dane.
On the other hand, Barcelona does not want to part with Ronald Araujo, despite Bayern’s willingness to pay a high fee for him. Xavi also rates Kounde very highly and does not want to lose him. Inigo Martinez’s departure would not provide the expected profits for Barcelona, as he is already 32 years old.
Barcelona have closed the door on a winter departure for the Dane in the recent meeting between Deco and Christensen’s agent, but the Barcelona Sporting Director is aware of the defender’s demand in England.
For his part, Christensen wants to remain at Barcelona but also wants to be a prominent part of the squad. The arrival of Riad can send him further below in the pecking order after him having already lost his place in the starting eleven this season.
