There has been pressure on the Barcelona board recently to sign a new right-back. The need for a new option has been accentuated especially amid speculations over the future of Hector Bellerin.
The former Arsenal starlet has reportedly become an option for Sporting CP, with coach Xavi Hernandez even giving him the green light to leave the club in the ongoing January transfer window.
To that end, one would expect Barcelona to sign a new right-back in the summer. One of the options the club have been linked with has been Arnau Martinez.
The Girona starlet is regarded as one of the rising defensive stars in La Liga, having become a first-team regular for the Catalan outfit. He has indeed impressed the onlookers with his athleticism and pace on the flanks, making him one of the most sought-after young defenders in La Liga.
However, according to Javi Miguel, Martinez, who has a release clause worth €20 million in his contract with Girona, is not a transfer priority for Xavi.
The 19-year-old starlet has never been the top option for the Catalans outfit, even though the club are actively searching for options in the market.
This comes amidst reports suggesting that Atletico Madrid have made their move to sign Martinez from Girona in the summer.
Miguel adds that Barça’s priority is to sign more experienced players such as Benjamin Pavard and Juan Foyth, both of who offer ample experience at the highest level of football and offer a rather balanced approach due to their defensively-focused style of football.
Xavi is known to use a left-sided overload on the majority of matches, with someone like Alejandro Balde or Jordi Alba often pushing forward. The presence of someone like Foyth or Pavard, to that end, could help the club add more balance in the defensive unit.
Signing Pavard might not be challenging either as the Frenchman is likely to be made available by Bayern Munich in the summer.
A move for Foyth could be a little trickier, but at the end of the day, a lot will depend on how Barcelona manage to reduce their salary budget and adhere to the Financial Fair Play regulations.