FC Barcelona have identified a highly-rated €80m defender from Sporting CP as one of their top defensive targets.
Barcelona are reportedly plotting a sensational strategic move to strengthen their backline by renewing interest in one of Europe’s most promising full-backs.
The Catalan club’s sporting director Deco, alongside head coach Hansi Flick, has been actively surveying defensive options ahead of upcoming transfer windows as they seek long-term stability in the wide areas.
With squad adjustments expected at Spotify Camp Nou, the Spanish giants have identified a formidable Sporting CP defender as a prime target to bolster their defensive depth.
The player returning to Barcelona’s transfer crosshairs is 21-year-old Spanish defender Iván Fresneda, as reported by Diario Sport.
The highly rated right-back, who currently features for Portuguese powerhouse Sporting CP, possesses an official buyout clause set at a staggering €80 million.
Barcelona previously pursued the talented youngster in 2023 during his time at Real Valladolid before he opted for a €9 million move to Lisbon.
Having gained invaluable UEFA Champions League experience and progressed under the national team set-up, Fresneda has firmly re-established himself on Barcelona’s radar.
Although the €80 million release clause remains far beyond Barcelona’s intended outlay, the club believes a far more realistic transfer window could open up.
Fresneda’s contract with Sporting CP runs until June 2028, and while the club has offered him an extension proposal, talks have yet to produce a breakthrough.
For Hansi Flick, acquiring a natural, tactically intelligent right-back would provide crucial depth and balance on the flank.
Potential departures or tactical reshuffles involving existing options could clear both wage space and minutes for the young Spaniard.
With Deco remaining a long-term admirer of the defender’s growth, Barcelona will closely monitor Fresneda’s situation in Lisbon before deciding whether to launch a formal approach.
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