Barça’s technical secretary is thought to have asked president Josep Maria Bartomeu to find the money for a summer swoop for David Alaba.
The LaLiga giants are long-term admirers of Alaba, and the club’s technical secretary, Robert Fernández, is understood to have asked president Josep Maria Bartomeu to find the funds to go after the versatile Austrian international, who can play at left-back, in central defence or in midfield.
However, Barça will have to dig deep to persuade Bayern to sell the 25-year-old, who signed an improved five-year deal in 2016, with the Bavarians’ CEO, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, declaring: “He’s essential to us and to the structure of the team.”
Meanwhile, room would have to be made for Alaba in Ernesto Valverde’s squad, with left-back Lucas Digne and central defender Thomas Vermaelen the chief candidates to make way. Although Barcelona are happy with Digne, they are not ruling out moving him on in future dealings, while it is unclear what will happen with Vermaelen, who is out of contract in 2019 and is enjoying a good season at the Camp Nou.
Do we really need him?