Barcelona in hunt for a left-back in January; assessing three possible options | OneFootball

Icon: Barca Universal

Barca Universal

·17 January 2022

Barcelona in hunt for a left-back in January; assessing three possible options

Article image:Barcelona in hunt for a left-back in January; assessing three possible options

The first year of Barcelona’s rebuild was far from ideal. Josep Bartomeu did not do enough to reinforce many positions in the team, leaving gaping holes in the starting lineup and bench.

These problem areas are, however, being filled since Joan Laporta and Mateu Alemany took over operations at the club. Dani Alves has been brought in as a rotating right-back, while Eric Garcia, Memphis Depay, and Ferran Torres have come in to reinforce central defence and the attack.


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Yesterday, reports stated that Xavi has already decided the area of the pitch he wants to improve: left-back.

Jordi Alba currently holds the reins as the starting left-sided fullback, but at 32 (turning 33 in March), desperately needs players to challenge him. He is en route arguably his poorest season with the Blaugrana and is struggling without Lionel Messi.

Article image:Barcelona in hunt for a left-back in January; assessing three possible options

In need of a competitor. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO/AFP via Getty Images)

Sergino Dest, Oscar Mingueza, and Eric Garcia have all taken turns to fill in there but are have not done an adequate enough job.

While Dest is quite experienced as a left side as well, having played there for the garnet and blue last season, he does not seem to have Xavi’s trust. There have been rumours linking him away from the team, and it seems he has finally accepted his fate.

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Alejandro Balde is a like-for-like replacement but is on the ropes for the Spanish manager. At 18, he has only featured six times this season.

Can someone challenge Alba in the next six months?

Barcelona’s options in the January transfer window are far and few in between, but there are certainly some players who can be assessed before January calls curtains. There are, however, three players that might be available.

The top prospect for them could be Ajax’s Nicolas Tagliafico. The Argentine’s starting spot has been taken over by Daley Blind recently, and he could be looking out the window for a move away.

Benfica left-back Alejandro Grimaldo is another name that has come up, as is tradition. A graduate of Barcelona’s La Masia academy, the Spaniard has spoken openly about his desire to return to the Camp Nou.

With three goals and three assists in 16 games in the league, Grimaldo is among the best creators among fullbacks in the top six leagues. And while his role would initially be secondary, he would probably slot in as the first-choice left-back starting next season.

The last name on the list is that of Alfonso Pedraza. Playing for Villarreal, the 25-year-old plays second fiddle to Pervis Estupinan and would probably be open to a mid-season transfer.

All these players more than fit the bill for Barcelona, both stylistically and financially. Further, they are all in positions where they would not mind coming to the Camp Nou in January.

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