Barcelona hold talks over La Liga defensive duo with agents – report

Shortly after Sergio Busquets’ desire to leave the club at the end of the season was revealed, Barcelona had talks with the agents of another veteran player Jordi Alba, discussing the prospects of a mutually agreed contract termination this coming summer.

Barcelona could owe Alba a figure of up to €38 million next season due to past deferred payments. The club are not in a position to pay such a fortune, which has led to them considering a summer exit for Alba.

However, as reported by Helena Condis, Alba’s future was not the only thing on the agenda for Barcelona. It appears the club’s officials had also discussed other players such as Hugo Guillamon and Pau Torres.

Both defenders are represented by the same agency as Alba, which allowed Barcelona to talk about their future and the possibility of incorporating them into the first team in the future.

Barcelona already have a deal wrapped up for veteran Inigo Martinez this coming summer. But with Eric Garcia facing an uncertain future, the club may fancy signing another top-class centre-back that can compete with the likes of Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araujo, and Jules Kounde.

That is where Torres and Guillamon come into the fray. Both have substantial experience in Spanish football, having become first-team regulars for their respective teams in recent years. Torres, in particular, has been a target for Barcelona for a while now.

However, luring the Spanish international to Camp Nou could be a tricky affair. His club Villarreal have not appeared all too keen on opening up economic solutions for Barcelona, during negotiations over top target Juan Foyth.

Although Torres’ current contract expires in 2024, Barcelona are unlikely to be able to afford the Villarreal star. Hence, the club must continue to prioritise their top targets such as a new right-back and Lionel Messi.

As for Guillamon, he could also be an option for the defensive midfield position set to be vacated by Busquets, having successfully transitioned from a centre-back to a No. 6 at Valencia.

But with names such as Sofyan Amrabat and Martin Zubimendi at the top of the wishlist, it remains to be seen if Barça do take a serious interest in the 23-year-old.