Barcelona looking to push out €25m defender – Manchester United and Tottenham credited with interest | OneFootball

The magnitude of Barcelona’s salary limit struggles remains unclear, but certainly it is not a healthy situation. After Ilkay Gundogan was encouraged to leave for Manchester City this week in order to save money, it seems the Blaugrana will look to sell one of two defenders they had been planning to keep.

According to Sport, selling one of Eric Garcia or Andreas Christensen is one of Deco’s tasks in the final days of the transfer window in order to increase their spending capacity. The former is allegedly more open to an exit than at the start of the summer. While Newcastle United were pursuing him at the start of the summer, their own financial fair play issues have ruled them out of the race.

Barcelona want at least €25m for Christensen, and the Catalan paper credit Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur with interest in the former Chelsea man. The Danish defender has two years left on his deal, and thus a sale makes sense for Barcelona if they do not intend on renewing his contract – his camp are testing the market.

Meanwhile Garcia is keen to stay and fight for his chances, Barcelona may tell him that he will receive little game time, knowing that Girona remain interested in him. He spent last year on loan there, but Barcelona would want a transfer for the 23-year-old. There has also been talk of the Blaugrana moving for a right-back in the last week of the window. If that is the case, then Jules Kounde could return to central defence.

Reports at the start of the summer claimed that Garcia could return to Girona for €15-20m, although Quique Carcel is yet to make a move for him. Recent information is that Barcelona are still looking to bring in a left winger, in particular Juventus’ Federico Chiesa, and there is no doubt they have a couple too many options in central defence, although the same could be said of their attack.

Christensen has been consistently good at the back for Barcelona, and provided solid performances since his arrival. Garcia’s form has been less consistent, but he is coming off his best season yet for Girona, and an Olympic gold medal with Spain. He is also five years Christensen’s junior.