Xavi and Deco not in agreement over Barcelona’s right-back targets – report

Barcelona have gotten a fair share of their incoming transfer business done for the summer, having brought in Ilkay Gundogan, Inigo Martinez, and Oriol Romeu. The La Liga title holders have also secured the services of Vitor Roque, who will be joining next year.

The next priority for the Blaugrana in the transfer market is the signing of a new right-back. With Jules Kounde no longer keen on playing in the position and Sergi Roberto not a reliable option, Xavi, Deco, and Mateu Alemany agree that a right-back is a necessary addition.

It has been speculated that Barça are looking at Ivan Fresneda of Real Valladolid and Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo as possible options to reinforce the position.

However, as per Mundo Deportivo, there is a lack of consensus within the club about whom to pursue to strengthen the right-back position.

Some officials, including soon-to-be-appointed sporting director Deco, believe that youth is the way to go forward and are betting on Fresneda as their preferred option to bolster the ranks.

The 18-year-old has just one season of top-flight football under his belt and has a release clause worth €20 million in his contract. Deco has already met his agents and sees him as a good bet for the right-back position.

However, there are others who wish to see a more experienced right-back, like Cancelo, being signed. Both Mateu Alemany and manager Xavi Hernandez belong to this line of thought and want to see the Portuguese international arrive from Manchester City this summer.

But, signing the 29-year-old will not be easy as City wish to offload him permanently and are seeking €50 million in exchange. Even a loan deal for the right-back would be expensive given his steep wages and any potential loan fee that the English champions might demand.

Meanwhile, Fresneda is also attracting serious interest from other clubs, with Valladolid director Fran Sanchez recently confirming that they have received offers for him.

“For Fresneda there are verbal proposals, not in writing. We have not yet responded. He will join us on Wednesday. He is a Real Valladolid player and we are putting the value on him,” he said.

With Deco leaning towards Fresneda and Xavi and Alemany willing to bet on Cancelo, it remains to be seen who Barcelona do end up signing.