The January transfer window is not too far away, and clubs around Europe will be planning to see what business they can do.
Some of their work will be looking at players who will be available in the summer, especially those who are set to be out of contract.
Manchester United defender Eric Bailly is one such player, as are Tottenham duo Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen. And that has caught the interest of Barcelona.
El Desmarque report the La Liga giants are ‘aware’ of players who may be free next summer and are planning on opening negotiations in January.
They are ‘very attentive’ to the trio above in particular as they look to improve their defence moving forward.
The Manchester United and Tottenham defenders are described as the ‘juicy options’ for Barça, with Bailly topping the list.
He is the favourite because of his age; he’s 25, and the fact that he has plenty of room for improvement.
However, it is explained that of the three, Tottenham defender Vertonghen is the one who fits better into Barcelona’s ‘profile’.
Of the three, it’s more likely that Barcelona would be able to get Alderweireld and Vertonghen from Tottenham, with it accepted that they will be leaving Spurs at some point.
Bailly is a harder get by some distance, though. Manchester United would be loathed to lose him on a free, even if his time in Manchester has not exactly been great.
It’s likely a new deal is there for him at Old Trafford, although he may prefer a return to Spain, where he enjoyed his best time so far, to try and get his career on track and it seems Barcelona may offer him that chance.
