With the summer transfer window approaching, teams are gearing up for another few months of bidding wars and transfer chases. Players will have to be ready with their bags to travel and fans will be glued to their mobile phones to learn about the fate of their favourite players or clubs.
The latest player to join this transfer rumour mill is Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng. The 29-year-old German is reportedly valued at £50million. He was a former Manchester City player but having failed to impress in England, he left for Germany.
He is now a star player in Germany and one of the best defenders in the game. It is believed he is being chased by top clubs like Manchester City, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Barcelona.
City recently signed Aymeric Laporte and with Kompany returning to form of late, Pep might back out of signing an old defender with such a high price tag. As for Manchester United, the Red Devils are in desperate need of a centre back and they might turn out to be one of the most sincere bidders for the player. Real Madrid will need a backup defender in their which might be the main problem in chasing Boateng as he is unlikely to play as a backup in any team.
As for Barcelona, ever since the retirement of Carles Puyol there has been a mini-battle going on at Nou Camp at the centre back position amongst defenders to secure his place. Besides the position of Gerard Pique, who is the only solid defensive option at Barcelona, there has been plenty of players who have come and gone.
Amongst the few top choices, there is Thomas Vermaelen who has never really played on a regular basis for the Catalan club. Barcelona have brought in a replacement in the form Samuel Umtiti. The young man is full of potential and is now a regular starter for the Catalan side after replacing the ageing Javier Mascherano at Nou Camp. Umtiti was brought in from French side Lyon last season for a reported fee of £22m.
The youngster impressed largely last year and kept pushing for a first-team spot. This season he has become a first-team starter and although had been impressive in the initial outings, now looks a little erratic at times. The talented centre-back has a bright future ahead of him but does not yet look ready to continue for a full season as the senior centre back at a club of Barcelona’s level.
Therefore, the above circumstances leave Barcelona short on first team defenders with only two solid options. Such a situation could see the Catalan giants actually go in for Boateng who would be a fine addition to the team.
