Barcelona have four left-backs on their radar for the summer

Plans for the summer transfer window are already afoot at Barcelona as they look to continue their rebuild under club legend Xavi Hernandez.

The board backed the 42-year-old in the January transfer window, signing Dani Alves, Ferran Torres, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Adama Traore. And they are prepared to go again in the summer, with several key positions needing reinforcing.

The left-back slot is one major priority for Barça ahead of the 2022/23 season. Jordi Alba will turn 33 in a month and has shown signs of slowing down. And, with no backup option for him in place, the manager is intent on signing a new player to address the issue.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have Valencia captain Jose Gaya as their top priority for the left-back slot. The Blaugrana have been monitoring the Spanish international for years now and see him as the ideal fit to take over from Alba.

The 26-year-old will enter the final year of his contract with Los Che at the end of the season. While there have been claims that he will sign an extension, the aforementioned report states that he is yet to take any decision on the matter, and Barça are closely monitoring the developments.

In case Gaya does not pen a new deal, the Catalan giants can go after him in the summer or even potentially opt to sign him on a free transfer in 2023. But in the scenario that the Spanish international decides to prolong his stay at the Mestalla, Xavi & co. have three other options as alternatives.

The first option that Barça could look at is Ajax star Nicolas Tagliafico, who they tried to sign in January. The Argentine expressed his displeasure with the Dutch giants for not sanctioning a move in the winter and would jump at the chance of moving to Camp Nou in the summer.

Former La Masia prospect Alex Grimaldo is another option that Barcelona are looking at. The Spaniard has excelled since moving to SL Benfica and has stated his desire to return to Catalonia in the recent past.

Another player on the club’s radar is Chelsea ace, Marcos Alonso. While he might not be a long-term solution, the ex-Fiorentina ace brings a lot of experience to the table and would also be relatively cheaper for Barcelona.

Gaya, however, continues to be the main target for Barcelona and they will continue to keep a close watch on his contract negotiations with Valencia.