La Liga club will demand €54.6 million for Barcelona’s priority right-back target – report

Despite failing to sign any player of note during the January transfer window, Barcelona are preparing for the season ahead, with Juan Foyth emerging as one of the transfer priorities for coach Xavi Hernandez.

The Barcelona head coach is reportedly keen on addressing the issue in the right-back department, with the club lacking any recognised option in the position, especially after Hector Bellerin’s January move to Sporting CP.

That is where Foyth comes into the fray. According to Diario SPORT, the Barcelona representatives even met with the Villarreal representatives during their clash in La Liga recently. But the topic of Foyth was not raised by Barça.

This is because the Catalan entity is certain that Villarreal will not negotiate at any cost. The Yellow Submarines have appeared quite adamant in keeping hold of Foyth and are only expected to sanction his exit if any club are willing to meet the player’s €54.6 million release clause.

Villarreal have no shown no intention to negotiate or lower the release clause. The player, for his part, is not willing to force his way out either, as his contract does not expire until 2026.

This could serve as a massive blow for Xavi Hernandez, as Foyth was the Spaniard’s top option to fix the right-back department in the summer. But with Barça in no position to afford the Argentine’s €54.6 million release clause, they must set their sights on other alternatives.

One of the options could be Bayern Munich star Benjamin Pavard, who has fallen out of favour and could leave Allianz Arena at the end of the season. The Frenchman is not expected to cost a fortune either, as his current deal expires in 2024 – making him an excellent option for the Catalans.