Two established names ruled out as Barcelona step up centre-back pursuit - report

Barcelona’s search for a new left-footed centre-back appears to be taking an increasingly unexpected direction, with Matteo Moretto ruling out Castello Lukeba and Goncalo Inacio as potential targets.

The Catalan club is understood to be working on the arrival of a left-footed defender, a profile considered important to strengthening the squad and giving Hansi Flick another specialist option at the back.

Earlier reports suggested that Barcelona were operating discreetly in the market, with Moretto offering a major clue about the identity of the player being pursued.

The journalist revealed that the defender does not currently play in Spain and is unlikely to be a name immediately familiar to casual football fans.

That description naturally brought Lukeba into the conversation.

The RB Leipzig defender has been monitored by Barcelona, while Flick is said to admire the Frenchman’s ability to operate both at centre-back and left-back.

However, Moretto has now made Barcelona’s position clearer.

Moretto rules out Lukeba ‘100%’ for Barcelona

Despite his qualities and previous links with Barcelona, Lukeba is not the defender the club are currently working to sign.

Moretto has ruled out the RB Leipzig player’s profile “100%”, ending speculation that the 23-year-old could be the mystery left-footed defender expected to arrive.

For what it is worth, Lukeba would have offered plenty of qualities that could appeal to Flick.

His versatility allows him to cover multiple positions across the defensive line, while his comfort on the left side would address an area Barcelona are actively looking to reinforce.

But Barcelona’s actual search appears to be focused elsewhere.

As such, the club is not simply choosing from the most obvious names already circulating in the transfer market.

Instead, the sporting department appears to be pursuing a different and considerably less high-profile profile.

Goncalo Inacio also not part of Barcelona’s plans

The same applies to Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio.

Inacio has been another name linked with Barcelona’s search for a left-footed centre-back, but Moretto’s comments indicate that the Portuguese international can also be ruled out.

The detail here is the level of recognition attached to Barcelona’s actual target.

According to the journalist, the player being worked on is less widely known than both Lukeba and Inacio.

That would explain why there has been so little speculation surrounding the identity of the defender so far.

Barcelona appear determined to keep the operation under wraps as they look to complete a deal for a player who may not be among the obvious candidates.

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