For a while, the Catalan media have been explaining how central defence isn’t an area Barcelona are in great need right now.
Matthijs de Ligt is endlessly linked, and that looks like a transfer which could happen, but it’s been thought of as more of a luxury than an immediate necessity.
Central defence has been overweighted, with it being repeatedly pointed out that’s at the expense of not finding a replacement for Lucas Digne.
Well, a 4-4 draw with Villarreal appears to have changed everything, at least for Sport‘s Ernest Folch.
He writes on Wednesday that signing De Ligt is now ‘urgent’ because there’s been a problem with Barcelona’s transfer planning.
The last of the list is on loan from Valencia and it’s almost certain he’ll be sent right back. Vermaelen’s contract ends in the summer and it’s thought he’s going too, and there’s growing doubt around Umtiti.
The World Cup winner is described as being ‘totally out of shape’, and it means Barca are suffering from ‘Piquédependencia’.
Lenglet and Umtiti got the spots against Villarreal and both were given 4/10 from Sport for their performance.
Both are left-footers, which Folch believes is a problem.
This is all weighing in favour of getting a De Ligt deal sorted as soon as possible with Ajax.
