Chelsea and Man United pushing to sign Barcelona defensive target

Like last year, Barcelona are once again set to go after Bosman signings in the summer transfer window in 2022.

The club’s financial situation, coupled with their pursuit of Erling Haaland means that the Catalan giants will once again need to dip their toes in the free-agent market to reinforce the squad.

And, if reports are to be believed, the Blaugrana may already have sealed the deal to sign Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Another defender who is set to become a free agent, that is on Barcelona’s radar is Bayern Munich star, Niklas Sule. The 26-year-old is in his fifth season with the Bavarian giants and has tasted plenty of success during his time at the club.

However, with his contract running out, the ex-TSG Hoffenheim starlet has decided not to extend his contract with the German champions, sparking the interest of several top clubs in Europe.

Barcelona are very much in the reckoning to sign Sule, according to Fichajes, but they are likely to face competition from Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester United.

Chelsea will be forced into the market for new defenders as they are set to lose the aforementioned Azpilicueta, along with Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger, who are also set to run down their contracts. And manager Thomas Tuchel has requested the signing of Sule.

As for Manchester United, they are not pleased with the performances of their current defenders and are looking to refresh their options. And, the 26-year-old German international is a player that appeals to the Red Devils as per the report.

Apart from Chelsea and Manchester United, their Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, too, are in the running for Sule’s signing. So, Barcelona will have a major fight on their hands in their pursuit of the Bayern Munich star.

But with Gerard Pique not getting any younger and Eric Garcia taking time to settle in, bringing in a proven operator like Sule, who will be available for free and has his best years in front of him, could be a shrewd move by the Catalan giants.