Barcelona identify €15 million-rated star as alternative to top fullback target | OneFootball

A recent report from Diario SPORT has offered some perspective on Barcelona’s hunt for a new left-back this summer.

It appears the club are ready to listen to offers for Gerard Martin and have identified Alejandro Grimaldo as the ideal replacement.

Grimaldo is seen as an immediate target as Barça look to add more competition for Alejandro Balde in the left-back position.

Grimaldo has seen no shortage of success during his time at Bayer Leverkusen, but that success may attract a hefty price tag. That is why the Catalans are already thinking of alternatives.

Caio Henrique emerges as an alternative

As per the report, Barça have lined up AS Monaco defender Caio Henrique as a solid Plan B.

The Brazilian full-back, who has prior experience in La Liga from his stint with Atletico Madrid, is seen as a more accessible target, with a valuation of around €15 million.

Barcelona believe Caio Henrique could be an ideal alternative to Grimaldo (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

Barcelona’s sporting director Deco is understood to be a big admirer of Caio and is directly backing the 29-year-old’s potential signing.

His technical profile and familiarity with Spanish football make him a logical choice to strengthen the squad without breaking the bank.

However, Barça’s left-back planning is not just short-term. The club intends to bring in an experienced defender who can deliver immediately and help stabilise the position over the next two seasons.

This strategy also allows 18-year-old academy product Jofre Torrents to develop at his own pace.

As for Henrique, his relatively cheaper valuation should make him an accessible target for Barcelona, though a lot could depend on how efficiently the club manage to offload its unwanted stars this summer.