Barcelona are currently in the market for a fresh right-back after releasing Dani Alves at the end of the 2021/22 campaign.
For the majority of the summer transfer window, the club had targeted Cesar Azpilicueta as the ideal answer to the right-back problems. However, the veteran defender is set to remain at Chelsea, which has put Barça in a frenzy.
The Catalans are desperately looking to find a new option in the right-back, especially in light of Sergino Dest’s uncertain future at the club.
The American international has struggled to impress Xavi, often failing to provide consistency or quality to the table. And heading into the new season, there are doubts over whether or not his services will be retained.
Recent reports suggest Barcelona have targeted multiple players in these final two weeks of the transfer window. There were suggestions Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin could be among them, as the Spaniard could reportedly be available on a free transfer this summer.
However, Gerard Romero has squashed those rumours, confirming Hector Bellerin is not of interest to FC Barcelona, even though the club are looking for a new right-back this month.
The Arsenal star, once revered as one of the best right-backs in Europe, is currently facing an uncertain future at Emirates. There are reports that the club could hand him a letter of freedom in order to facilitate his exit.
But even after a relatively good loan spell at Real Betis last season, there are suggestions that the former La Masia product does not fit Xavi’s tactical system at Camp Nou and it appears Barcelona are prioritising other options at the moment.
Thomas Meunier and Juan Foyth are among the two players being closely monitored by the Catalans as they look to find a viable replacement for not only Alves, but also Dest.