Barcelona set strict conditions before considering move for World Cup-winning defender

Barcelona look set to have an important few weeks in the summer transfer window before it shuts at the end of this month.

The club are working on signing Rodri from Manchester City, and there is also the striker situation to address, with Julian Alvarez looking unlikely.

It has also emerged that the Blaugrana may be looking at a new central defender in the final few weeks of the transfer window.

The departure of Ronald Araujo on loan to Liverpool has opened up the slot for Barça to move for presumably a left-footed central defender.

RB Leipzig’s Castello Lukeba has re-emerged on the club’s radar after being linked with Barça earlier in the window.

Meanwhile, according to SPORT, the other name offered to the club and under consideration is Athletic Club defender Aymeric Laporte.

Barcelona want absolute clarity

However, the Catalans are unwilling to take any risks over a potential move for the World Cup winner, with the club determined to avoid another contractual dispute involving Athletic Club.

The experienced centre-back will only be considered if every legal and contractual detail is completely clear from the outset.

Laporte’s representatives are understood to have offered the defender to Barcelona for a fixed figure linked to his release clause, with the player open to leaving Athletic this summer.

However, Barça want full certainty over the player’s contract, the exact mechanism of any clause and Athletic’s position before taking a single formal step.

Once bitten, twice shy

That caution is directly linked to the strained relationship between Barcelona and Athletic following the Nico Williams saga.

Relations between the two clubs are not considered great following the events of last summer.

As a result, any Laporte deal would have to be completely clean and straightforward.

Sporting interest comes second

Laporte’s profile is easy to understand from a football perspective. He is experienced, left-footed and comfortable building from the back, qualities that fit a need Barcelona have considered strengthening.

He also forged an excellent partnership with Pau Cubarsi at the World Cup, something Barça could look to replicate at club level.

However, despite all the reasons for Barcelona making this move from a sporting perspective, there is a reason the club are being cautious.

If the club decide to sign a new central defender this summer, it is definitely worth considering a move for the 32-year-old in all seriousness.

If all conditions in the deal remain straightforward and the release clause is attainable, this could be one of the transfer stories to look out for in the final weeks of the transfer window.

Click here to read article