While Xavi has found his best backline for this season, it is not surprising to see that he has often resorted to using Marcos Alonso in that left centre-back role every now and then.
The tactician clearly prefers a left-footed option to aid the build-up in the first phase, and is willing to sacrifice Andreas Christensen’s defensive acumen to fulfill that.
However, Barcelona are still haunted by the ghosts of their financial past, and will not be able to make moves for any top guns like Aymeric Laporte, Lisandro Martinez, Alessandro Bastoni, and Josko Gvardiol, among others.
As such, the focus must shift towards players available on a free transfers or slashed prices. One of the players Barça have been keeping tabs on is Eintracht Frankfurt’s Evan Ndicka.
The French centre-half has been one of the best defenders in Bundesliga this season, but is expected to leave the German outfit on a free transfer in the summer once his contract expires.
Fabrizio Romano has provided an important update on Ndicka’s situation, suggesting that the player is open to proposals. There are multiple teams interested in his signature, including Barcelona, and it is an open race right now.
It had been reported a few days ago that Barcelona had reached an agreement with Ndicka over a Bosman move in the summer and that they would finalise their decision over the signing around March.
At 23, Ndicka definitely fits Xavi’s and Barcelona’s plans for the long-term, but he is not the only option to reinforce the defence.
Athletic Club’s Inigo Martinez is also on their radar. The Spaniard becomes a free agent in the summer, and is heavily interested in moving to Barça. In fact, the Catalans were pursuing his signing last summer as well, but Bilbao refused to let him go then.
