3 Defenders Barcelona Could Target in January; Man City, Chelsea On Radar

The Catalan giants, who sit top of La Liga after 18 gameweeks, are still struggling defensively following the departure of former Athletic Club defender Inigo Martinez. Since his exit, Hansi Flick’s high defensive line has been exposed on several occasions. The main issue has been the German coach’s constant experiments at the back, with partnerships such as Cubarsí–Gerard Martín, Cubarsí–Araujo and Cubarsí–Christensen failing to deliver consistency. These combinations have backfired more often than not. Moreover, Cubarsí’s form has dipped since Martinez left, with the young defender being caught off guard multiple times in crucial moments this season.

Amidst the defensive struggle, the team has, however, managed to be at the top thanks to coach Xabi Alonso and Diego Simeone's team, who have dropped points at decisive moments. But the current Barcelona defenders are unlikely to ensure the Culers of repeating the 3peat this season with their current performance.

To address these issues, sporting director Deco, along with Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, is aiming to strengthen the defensive backline. Barcelona’s January transfer window will be fully focused on signing a high-profile centre-back. Manchester City and Chelsea are being closely monitored, with defenders from both clubs emerging as potential targets.

Barcelona January Transfer Window: Probable Targets

Hansi Flick will be targeting a ball-playing centre-back who can control and organise the defensive line, similar to the role Inigo Martinez played for the team before his Saudi departure. The club has narrowed down its search and identified three players. Nathan Ake and Axel Disasi, who are being offered by English clubs Man City and Chelsea, while Barcelona are also monitoring another defender like Nicolas Otamendi as part of their January plans. Let's see what these players have to offer.

Nathan Ake - Manchester City

The English club has offered defender Nathan Aké to Barcelona, and in many ways, he has all the qualities needed to succeed at the club. However, what Ake lacks is leadership, which is seen as a key factor in Barcelona’s decision-making process when it comes to signing a new centre-back in Barcelona January Transfer.

Axel Disasi - Chelsea

If Axel Disasi is seen in red and blue colours, the main reason would be to strengthen the bench, especially with players like Christensen set to miss a few weeks due to injury. The Chelsea defender would be a smart short-term option for depth. However, while Disasi does have the quality to become a regular starter, he would need time to adapt to Barcelona’s style of play and high defensive line.

Nicolas Otamedi - SL Benfica

The Benfica defender Otamendi can fit the lineup as he can lead the backline and has numbers almost similar to Inigo Martinez. However, the issue will arise after a few years, as he will be turning 40 in the coming years.

After analysing the statistics and other key factors of the mentioned players, Nathan Ake appears to be the perfect long-term fit for the squad. However, if FC Barcelona are looking for a short-term solution, Nicolas Otamendi stands out as the best option available to the club in the January transfer window.