Barcelona are having a good season in the La Liga and are on the top of the points table so far. However, their last encounter against Real Betis saw the Blaugrana concede four goals and lose the match by 4-3, which has once again raised a finger on the credibility of their defensive lineup.
With Samuel Umtiti still recovering from an injury, Clement Lenglet has paired up with Gerard Pique in the heart of the backline. However, it has not been proven to be the best solution for Ernesto Valverde’s side as they have gone onto concede 18 goals in their first 12 matches in the La Liga, which is the worst defensive record among the top seven teams in the competition this season.
This has compelled the Catalan club to make a move for the Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar, who has been in fine form this season. The centre-back was in his prime against Barcelona in their last Champions League match played at the San Siro and helped his side to leave the field with a point, keeping their hopes alive in this season’s Champions League.
However, as per the latest reports, the Nerazzurri might have to let go of their prized possession in order to settle the Financial Fair Play agreement with UEFA and get in line with the prescribed terms, for which they will have to raise at least €40-50m. The Blaugrana could look to take advantage of the situation and get the player to Nou Camp to improve their defence.
The player has, however, been linked with Manchester United as well, which makes the job difficult for the present La Liga champions. However, with the defence not performing well for them, it is imperative that Valverde’s side looks to get the Slovakian international to Barcelona in January.
A player like Skriniar will add a lot of stability to the backline for the La Liga leaders, and he can do a good enough job of keeping the side out of harm’s way in partnership with Pique until Umtiti gets fit and makes his way back into the team. So it would be a wise decision for Barcelona to invest in the 23-year-old defender.
