FC Barcelona are interested in Nacho Monreal as a possible summer signing to play backup to Jordi Alba, according to reports in Spain.
Sport write that after agreeing to extend Alba’s contract to 2024, Barcelona want to bring in a low-cost backup to the left-back this summer. The three top candidates are Arsenal’s Nacho Monreal, Liverpool’s Alberto Moreno and Atletico Madrid’s Filipe Luis.
According to the report, Barcelona have already established contact with ‘some’ of them, although Sport don’t specify which of the three that’s the case for.
In all cases, Barcelona are only interested in signing the incoming player on a maximum two-year deal, as a short-term solution to their problem. After that, they’d rather bet on a young player with good potential.
Monreal’s contract situation isn’t exactly clear at the moment. Initially, his deal was set to expire at the end of the season, though Arsenal had the option to extend it by a further year to 2020. In January, there were rumours the Gunners had taken up this option, but that hasn’t been confirmed by any other sources.
If the Spaniard’s deal does come to an end this summer, Barcelona could bring him in on a free transfer. If not, we’ll have to wait and see how keen Arsenal are to keep him.
