Analysis: Evaluating Barcelona’s right back options ahead of summer transfer window
Barcelona has been very active in the summer transfer window, making significant moves to strengthen their squad. They recently secured a deal for promising Senegalese defender Mikayil Faye and have also reached pre-contract agreements with Inigo Martinez and Ilkay Gundogan.
However, the club's sporting directors, Mateu Alemany and Deco, are not content with their early signings. They recognize the need to address other areas of the squad before the upcoming season, particularly the pivot position and the problematic right-back position.
Barcelona has struggled to find a reliable right back for several years, often signing players who have failed to meet expectations. This issue forced Jules Kounde, who prefers to play in central defense, to fill the right-back role for the majority of the 2022-23 season.
Among the potential options for the right-back position, Thomas Meunier was one of the names linked with Barcelona. However, it has been reported that the club missed out on signing him because they waited too long to pursue a deal with Borussia Dortmund, who are asking for a relatively low fee of €2-4 million.
Meunier would have been an excellent addition to Barcelona, especially at such an affordable price. Nevertheless, the club will now have to turn their attention to other targets, and fortunately, they have a few options to choose from.
Juan Foyth, although a fantastic player, is not a realistic option for Barcelona. Villarreal, his current club, is unwilling to negotiate his departure unless his hefty release clause of €60 million is activated. Given Barcelona's current financial state, they cannot afford such an expensive transfer.
Another potential target is Joao Cancelo. While a permanent transfer seems unlikely due to financial constraints, a loan deal similar to the one he had at Bayern Munich in the latter half of the previous season could be possible. Cancelo was once considered one of the best fullbacks in the world but fell out of favor under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. A move to Barcelona could revitalize his career.
Barcelona has also intensified their pursuit of Ivan Fresneda, a young talent from Real Valladolid. They recently met with the player's representatives, and he has a release clause of €20 million due to his club's relegation. Fresneda would be an excellent signing for Barcelona, providing rotation options with Kounde and/or Julian Araujo in the short term and potentially establishing himself as the long-term right-back solution.
However, competition from other interested clubs could make it challenging for Barcelona to secure Fresneda's signature, considering their financial struggles.
In summary, Barcelona has been proactive in the transfer market, but there is still work to be done. They must find a suitable pivot player and address the problematic right-back position. While missing out on Thomas Meunier was a setback, options like Joao Cancelo and Ivan Fresneda remain on the table. Barcelona will need to navigate their financial limitations and competition from other clubs to strengthen their squad effectively for the upcoming season.
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