Barcelona face Man City competition in free transfer pursuit of Bundesliga defender

A recent report from 90 Min (h/t Mundo Deportivo) has offered an update on the future of Evan Ndicka. The Eintracht Frankfurt starlet has emerged as one of the sought-after defensive prospects in the market, especially with his contract expiring at the end of the season.

As part of their plans to upgrade their defences, Barcelona are among the clubs keeping a close track of his situation at SGE. However, the club are set to face stiff competition in the pursuit of the Frenchman, with Manchester City recently joining the race.

As per the report, the Premier League champions Manchester City have identified Ndicka as an ideal replacement for Aymeric Laporte.

The former Athletic Club centre-back is likely to leave Etihad at the end of the season, with Barcelona curiously emerging as one of the potential destinations. Man City’s priority option in the defensive unit is to sign Josko Gvardiol.

But the RB Leipzig star has been courted by Real Madrid while the Bundesliga outfit are also demanding a fortune for the services of the Croatian international, who was one of the best defenders at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

This has forced Man City to shift their priorities, with Ndicka now emerging as a potential option. In addition to the English giants, the Frankfurt defender has also been courted by the likes of Sevilla, PSG, Juventus, Liverpool and Inter Milan, among others.

Barcelona, as many would know, are not in a position to go into a bidding war or compete with other clubs financially. Therefore, the club’s pursuit of Ndicka may ultimately lead to a dead-end come the end of the season.

But it must be noted that Barça on track to sign Athletic Club veteran Inigo Martinez, who is likely to join the club on a three-year contract. If the move goes ahead without any hitches, Ndicka is unlikely to be an option for the Catalan giants.