A key Nottingham Forest player edges closer to a shock Barcelona move with January talks reaching an advanced stage.
Barcelona’s defensive vulnerabilities expose a glaring gap at the heart of Hansi Flick’s backline, exacerbated by Ronald Araujo’s extended absence and Andreas Christensen’s severe injury that triggered a 20-day salary loophole for reinforcements.
Eric Garcia’s frequent midfield and right-back deployments underscore the centre-back shortage, prompting the sporting director to scour Premier League benches for versatile youth aligning with La Masia’s blueprint—raw potential tempered by tactical nous, without the premium price tags of established stars.
Flick’s high-pressing system craves ball-playing defenders who adapt swiftly, fueling Deco’s longstanding admiration for a precocious talent who’s struggled for senior minutes despite his pedigree, now eyeing a Catalan escape amid Brazilian roots and Flamengo whispers.
A January switch tantalizes as the perfect low-risk injection, though pragmatism tempers optimism in a transfer landscape rigged against the Blaugrana.
The player in question is Nottingham Forest’s 20-year-old Jair Cunha, closing in on a January move to Barcelona as Deco reignites his pursuit, as reported by Diario Sport.
Brazilian sensation he targeted for Barça Atlètic back in 2023 before injury derailed it.
Cunha, who joined Nottingham Forest from Botafogo last summer, has logged just two senior outings—his last in October—turning instead to U21 duties in the Premier League Cup, leaving him hungry for a breakthrough.
Deco’s dual interest in Forest talents extends to Murillo, but Jair’s profile intrigues for its left-footed promise and physicality suited to Flick’s demands.
Yet realism prevails: Barcelona seeks proven immediacy, not development time, rendering a Camp Nou arrival unlikely despite the rapport.
Instead, Flamengo looms as the frontrunner to repatriate the highly-rated prospect for defensive renewal.
For Deco, Jair embodies smart scouting, but the window’s harsh economics prioritize crisis aversion over long-shot prodigies.
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