Mansion Sports – Barcelona are currently formulating plans to bring in a new central defender in the upcoming summer transfer window, as part of their efforts to improve a defensive sector that has frequently encountered problems throughout this season.

Several names have entered the club’s radar over recent months, and now one new candidate has once again emerged as a potential option.

Barcelona’s primary focus is to recruit a left-footed central defender, in line with the need to fill the void left by Inigo Martinez following his move to Al-Nassr last summer.

Several players such as Nico Schlotterbeck and Goncalo Inacio have previously been linked with the club, but at present the possibility of signing Lisandro Martinez is considered more realistic.

Barcelona had in fact shown interest in Martinez since his time at Ajax.

According to a report from CaughtOffside, the Catalan club are once again considering a move to sign the Argentine national team defender in the summer. Manchester United are reportedly still reluctant to let the player go, although sources in Catalunya believe that a deal could be reached for a fee of around €55 million.

Over the past 18 months, Martinez has indeed been frequently hampered by injuries, but in terms of profile he is considered to suit Barcelona’s needs as a left-sided central defender who is comfortable in possession.

Nevertheless, there are concerns regarding his relatively short stature, which is feared could become a weakness.

However, given the nature of La Liga, which is considered less physically demanding than the Premier League, Martinez is viewed as potentially better suited to adapting to Spanish football.

Barcelona Must Not Make the Wrong Choice at Centre-Back

At present, the centre-back position is a crucial area in which Barcelona cannot afford to make mistakes in their summer transfer planning.

Pau Cubarsi and Eric Garcia have shown fairly consistent performances throughout the season, but the club’s management want a natural left-sided defender to be paired with one of them starting next season.

It will be interesting to see who Barcelona ultimately choose as their new recruit in the defensive line.

Lisandro Martinez represents a fairly attractive option, and a fee of €55 million is considered reasonable. Nevertheless, the negotiation process with Manchester United is still expected to present its own challenges for Barcelona.