Barcelona well-positioned to sign La Liga defender on a free transfer next summer | OneFootball

Owing to their rather difficult financial situation, Barcelona have been keeping tabs on the free market in hopes of completing Bosman moves.

Over the last few windows, they have signed players like Memphis Depay, Eric Garcia, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Franck Kessie, Andreas Christensen while paying absolutely nothing in transfer fees.

They are also keeping tabs on several players for next summer, including a certain Inigo Martinez, who is now well-placed for a move to Barcelona, if reports from SPORT are to be believed.

Barcelona have been working on his signing for a while now. And following Gerard Pique’s retirement, the Catalans are expected to accelerate contacts with the Spanish defender.

Inigo will enter the last six months of his contract on January 1st, 2023, after which Barça can pen him down to a pre-agreement for a move in the summer.

At 31, Inigo has a ton of experience in La Liga, and has looks to have no intention of signing a contract extension with Athletic Club.

In fact, Xavi asked for his signature in the summer of 2022 itself, but the move could not transpire. Athletic are not ready to let the veteran leave the club that easily, and will likely not open the doors to his move in January either.

As it stands, Barcelona have the likes of Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia, and Andreas Christensen in their ranks as centre-halves. All of them come with rather sketchy injury records, though.

Further, following Pique’s exit, Xavi is left without a natural leader in defence. Inigo Martinez can seamlessly fit that role, while boasting of a high level of defensive calibre.