Barcelona’s head coach, Hansi Flick, has made it clear that reinforcing the full-back positions will be the club’s top priority during the upcoming summer transfer window.
Despite strong performances from Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde this season, Flick remains concerned about the lack of competition and reliable alternatives in these positions. The German manager is determined to bring in reinforcements to strengthen both flanks and ensure depth in the squad.
According to reports from the Spanish outlet El Nacional, Flick has formally requested club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco to secure new full-backs. On the left side, Gerard Martin has been given several opportunities, but his performances have not been convincing enough to earn the coach’s trust.
As a result, he could be sent out on loan or even permanently transferred. To address this issue, Barcelona is considering potential signings, including Álvaro Carreras from Benfica and Alejandro Grimaldo from Bayer Leverkusen.
Another possible solution could come from La Masia, as the club has high hopes for Joffrey Torrents. The young talent has impressed with his performances in the youth teams and has successfully recovered from a serious knee injury that kept him sidelined for a long period.
Barcelona’s management believes he has the potential to break into the first team. He is set to be integrated into the reserve team setup and will participate in pre-season training with the senior squad, where he will have the chance to prove himself to Flick.
On the right flank, the situation is equally pressing. Hector Fort appears to be on his way out of the club, as he has struggled for game time under Flick. He has only started two matches, both as a backup for Jules Kounde, including the recent La Liga clash against Rayo Vallecano.
With no clear replacement emerging from the youth ranks, Barcelona is almost certain to sign a new right-back in the summer. Among the names being considered are Marc Bubel from Almería and Vanderson from AS Monaco.
For the remainder of the season, Flick will have to rely on his current options, hoping that both Balde and Kounde remain injury-free. As the most crucial part of the campaign approaches, he understands the importance of having strong and dependable full-backs.
His goal is to reinforce these positions to ensure Barcelona’s competitiveness in domestic and European competitions moving forward.
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