Overview
- Reports from Spain indicate Barcelona have prioritized Manchester City's Josko Gvardiol and Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni as the preferred left-footed centre-backs.
- The club’s plan targets a defender capable of anchoring the back line for the next four to five seasons.
- Barcelona remain constrained by La Liga’s 1:1 registration rule, making a major January acquisition unlikely despite optimism about improved conditions next summer.
- Manchester City are reluctant to part with a regular starter like Gvardiol, and Inter view Bastoni as a cornerstone, limiting near-term chances of a deal.
- Scouted alternatives such as Pau Torres, Ibrahima Konaté and Marc Guéhi have not convinced decision-makers, and while Gerard Martin is progressing internally, he is not viewed as the sole solution.