Barcelona face Real Madrid competition for €54 million right-back target | OneFootball

Barcelona have identified Villarreal defender Juan Foyth as their primary target to reinforce the right-back position in the summer.

The Argentine international has been on the Blaugrana’s radar since last summer. But a move had failed to materialise back then because of Villarreal’s unwillingness to negotiate a price as well as the injury to the defender late in the window.

However, Barcelona have continued to maintain their interest in Foyth, who was part of the Argentina squad that won the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

But, now, SPORT is reporting that Real Madrid have entered the race to sign Foyth from Villarreal and have sounded out the 25-year-old’s entourage about the same.

Los Blancos are in the market for a new right-back amid concerns over Dani Carvajal’s form and fitness. And Foyth has emerged as a possible target for them ahead of the summer transfer window.

This will likely come as a blow for Barcelona, who are not in a position to compete financially with their arch-rivals due to their Fair Play problems.

Villarreal, for their part, continue to insist on interested parties paying Foyth’s release clause amount which stands at around €54 million.

The Blaugrana were hoping to lower that valuation by offering players in exchange to the Yellow Submarine. But even then, fitting Foyth into the club’s wage bill will prove to be a daunting task at a time when they need to make cuts of around €200 million to their salary budget.

The Financial Fair Play issues, coupled with Real Madrid’s entry into the scene, could pretty much spell an end to Barcelona’s pursuit of Foyth.

Hence, Barcelona have been looking at more feasible alternatives to the Argentine, such as Thomas Meunier of Borussia Dortmund, Benjamin Pavard of Bayern Munich and Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot, although the latter is reportedly in talks to renew his contract.