Barcelona target Man United defender Lisandro Martinez amid contract uncertainty

Barcelona person reportedly identified Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez arsenic 1 of their much attainable targets for the January transportation window, though the Red Devils clasp an important contractual vantage that could complicate a imaginable deal.

The Catalan giants are readying to fortify their cardinal defence pursuing successive defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, which exposed vulnerabilities successful Hansi Flick's different awesome side.

According to Spanish paper Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona person drawn up a four-man shortlist featuring Manchester City's Josko Gvardiol, Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni, Martinez and Real Betis defender Natan.

However, fiscal restrictions and the trouble of persuading starring European clubs to merchantability important players midway done the play person forced Barca to see much accessible alternatives.

Martinez, 28, has emerged arsenic a peculiarly intriguing anticipation due to the fact that his existing Manchester United declaration is owed to expire successful June 2027.

The Argentina international's concern has besides attracted attraction pursuing his caller disapproval of United's transportation strategy, though the Premier League nine person an enactment to widen his statement by different 12 months.

That proviso could beryllium decisive if Barcelona determine to formalise their involvement successful the World Cup winner.

Barcelona see Martinez arsenic Gvardiol and Bastoni deals beryllium difficult

Barcelona's renewed hunt for a centre-back follows a disappointing week successful which Flick's squad suffered a 4-2 Champions League decision against PSG earlier losing 2-1 to Real Madrid successful El Clasico.

Those setbacks interrupted an 11-match winning series and highlighted antiaircraft problems that the nine had been incapable to code during the summertime transportation window.

Barcelona reinforced their onslaught and midfield but did not enlistee a specializer cardinal defender, alternatively relying connected Pau Cubarsi, Andreas Christensen and Gerard Martin, with Jules Kounde besides susceptible of operating centrally.

The nine are present understood to privation an experienced defender who tin marque an contiguous interaction alternatively than different semipermanent prospect.

Mundo Deportivo identifies Gvardiol arsenic the imagination signing, with the Croatian highly regarded for his versatility and quality to run some centrally and astatine left-back.

However, the 24-year-old signed a caller Manchester City declaration until June 2031 during the summer, making a January transportation peculiarly difficult.

Barcelona are besides admirers of Bastoni, who was considered during the erstwhile transportation window.

Yet the Italian planetary remains a cardinal subordinate for Inter Milan, and the Serie A nine are not expected to entertain offers for him halfway done the campaign.

That leaves Martinez and Natan arsenic perchance much realistic alternatives.

The Manchester United defender offers sizeable experience, is people left-footed and has antecedently demonstrated his quality to run successful a possession-based system.

His wounded grounds remains a concern, however, peculiarly fixed Barcelona's tendency to enlistee idiosyncratic susceptible of contributing immediately.

Natan, meanwhile, has impressed astatine Real Betis and could reportedly beryllium disposable for astir €30m (£26m), positive further payments.

Barcelona's quality to implicit immoderate important signing is nevertheless expected to beryllium connected departures and the funds raised done subordinate sales.

Man United clasp cardinal declaration enactment amid Martinez transportation speculation

Martinez's contractual concern represents some an accidental for Barcelona and a imaginable obstacle to their plans.

The erstwhile Ajax defender signed a five-year woody erstwhile helium joined Manchester United successful 2022, leaving him approaching the last months of his archetypal agreement.

Without an extension, helium would beryllium eligible to negociate a pre-contract statement with a overseas nine from January up of a imaginable escaped transportation adjacent summer.

United could truthful look a determination betwixt negotiating a departure, agreeing caller presumption oregon allowing his declaration to tally down.

However, the Red Devils person a unilateral enactment to widen Martinez's declaration until June 2028, meaning Barcelona cannot presume helium volition go a escaped agent.

Earlier this month, transportation writer Fabrizio Romano reported that United remained assured astir the defender's situation.

"Man Utd person a clause to widen the declaration till 2028. So, they consciousness calm, they consciousness successful control," Romano explained.

He added that United continued to respect Martinez arsenic an important fig and intended to clasp discussions with his representatives.

At that stage, the defender was not progressive successful precocious negotiations with different club.

Nevertheless, fresh doubts person emerged pursuing Martinez's nationalist disapproval of United's hierarchy aft their Champions League decision to Atletico Madrid connected October 13.

The Argentine questioned aspects of the club's recruitment strategy, comments that reportedly caused interest internally earlier helium subsequently sought to clarify his position.

United caput manager Michael Carrick aboriginal indicated that the substance had been addressed, but speculation surrounding Martinez's semipermanent aboriginal has continued.

Sky Sports reported connected October 15 that determination were doubts implicit whether United would yet widen his contract, contempt retaining the enactment to bash so.

That uncertainty could promote Barcelona to prosecute the defender, peculiarly if they judge an statement tin beryllium reached for a interest beneath his estimated €45m (£39m) marketplace valuation.

However, determination has been nary confirmed connection oregon precocious dialog betwixt the clubs.

For Barcelona, Martinez represents a perchance much attainable alternate to Gvardiol and Bastoni, but United's hold clause means the Spanish champions whitethorn inactive person to negociate straight with the Old Trafford hierarchy to unafraid his services successful January.