Having renewed Jordi Alba’s contract until 2024, Barcelona now have the task of finding someone who can be used to give the Spaniard a rest throughout the season.
The 29-year-old has only missed five games this season, three of which came in the early rounds of the Copa del Rey, with Ernesto Valverde having to use youngsters like Juan Miranda or right-back Nelson Semedo as replacements in those instances.
While this is fine in some games, Barcelona should have more depth at the role, and that’s what they are looking for going into the summer transfer window, with Arsenal’s Nacho Monreal one of their targets.
Sport are the one reporting the news on Friday, claiming the La Liga champions have kept in touch with the Gunners’ left-back, whose contract still “officially” runs out at the end of the season (despite claims of the London club activating a one-year extension clause, which has never been confirmed).
Their idea is to only hand whomever they sign a two-year contract in order to bridge the gap until they find someone outside of the club capable of taking over from Alba when his legs start to give way.
The likes of Marc Cucurella and the aforementioned Miranda are expected to be sold in the future, so having someone like Arsenal’s Monreal around for the near future would be ideal.
There’s little else to be said right now, as no official move has been made, but if the Gunners do not keep the 33-year-old around, he should find a new landing spot fairly quickly.
