Barcelona join Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund in race for 18-year-old Croatian defender

FC Barcelona could also be sitting comfortably on the high of the La Liga desk with 49 factors from 19 video games, however Hansi Flick will know that his workforce is nowhere close to its finest stage and there’s nonetheless vital scope for enchancment.

Defensive points have been the foremost downside for the Catalan membership up to now this season. The exit of Inigo Martinez in the summertime has affected them greater than they’d imagined, and till lately, Flick struggled to establish his most popular central defensive partnership.

The German supervisor has made it clear that he’s on the lookout for one other defender so as to add to the again line. In different phrases, one can interpret this as Flick pushing for the membership to signal a alternative for Inigo after they failed to take action in the summertime.

Based on Sports activities WorldCroatian gem Branimir Mlacic, who performs for Hajduk Cut up, has emerged on Barcelona’s radar. The 18-year-old can also be attracting curiosity from different European giants akin to Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan, which underlines his high quality.

{The teenager} is tied to the Croatian membership till 2029. Hajduk have a monitor report of manufacturing gifted central defenders in recent times, with Luka Vušković making waves earlier than securing a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.

Mlacic could be the subsequent apple from the orchard, albeit a way from being ripe. He’s nonetheless very uncooked and right-footed, and if Barcelona signal him, he may want a stint with the reserves coupled with a mortgage transfer earlier than he’s first-team prepared.

Signing developmental gamers with a view to the longer term is okay, however Flick has a extra urgent want: an skilled left-footed central defender within the brief time period.

Let’s wait and see whether or not Deco & co. transfer in January to get him what he needs, or if the approaching arrival of Joao Cancelo will stay Barcelona’s solely winter signing.