Gerard Piqué and Sergi Roberto picked up injuries last month, while Samuel Umtiti, who hasn’t featured for Barcelona this season, is yet to regain full fitness.
The La Liga side have Eric García as their main defensive target in January and are aware Manchester City will not make it easy for them to sign the Spaniard.
Ronald Koeman’s side are looking at other alternatives and Hoffenheim’s Melayro Bogarde has emerged as an option, according to Sport.
The 18-year-old joined the German club’s academy in 2018 and was promoted to the first team earlier this year. Since then, he has been on the radar of several clubs, including the La Liga side.
Bogarde has three appearances this season, including two starts in the Europa League, and his ability to operate as both centre-back and right-back makes him ‘more valuable’ for the Camp Nou side.
In addition to this, the Netherlands U18 international will be available for an ‘affordable price’ in the winter market because his contract expires at the end of this season.
For Barca, the operation isn’t easy because the teenager has ‘aroused interest’ from half of Europe. Manchester City, Real Madrid and AC Milan are chasing the versatile player, and therefore, Barcelona ‘should move quickly’, if they want to sign him.
As per the report, City made an offer for the Hoffenheim player, but he has ‘rejected’ the first proposal from Pep Guardiola’s side. That’s because Bogarde doesn’t want to move to a club where he will not have regular opportunities to continue his development.
