Barcelona are one of the clubs who are keen on signing Matthijs de Ligt, but the Ajax captain’s chances of making a switch to the Camp Nou look slim, if reports are to be believed.
Ernesto Valverde has Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet, Samuel Umtiti and Jean-Clair Todibo as the four centre-backs at his disposal.
Wednesday’s edition of Mundo Deportivo claims the La Liga winners had identified Victor Lindelof of Manchester United as an alternative to the Dutchman.
The defender left Benfica and made a switch to Old Trafford in 2017 and the same summer, Nelson Semedo left the Portuguese side to join the Blaugrana.
When the Catalan club were observing Semedo, they also received positive reports about the Sweden international, but they never considered making an approach back then.
Lindelof started in both legs of the Champions League quarter-final tie against Barcelona, as a centre-back in the first leg and on the right side of the defence in the away leg.
Mundo believe the lack of Champions League football at United may push Lindelof to see the Barca option with ‘better eyes’.
The Spanish champions ‘want’ the 24-year-old and with two years left on his contract (plus an option to extend it by a year), Barcelona are of the belief the Red Devils could still sell him for a good price.
Barca even approached Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side to test the possibility of signing the player. They contacted the club ‘several times’, but the response each time from Manchester United has been the same: “No, thanks”.
If Barcelona still want to bring in a new centre-back, they may have to look elsewhere because United will not let Lindelof leave the club.