Xavi has given the green light for Barcelona to pursue 23-year-old Premier League defender

Barcelona seem to be ready to up the ante in their pursuit of Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot ahead of the summer transfer window next year.

The Catalan giants are on the lookout for a new right-back before the next season as Sergi Roberto and Hector Bellerin are out of contract at the end of the ongoing campaign.

Many names are being looked at by Barça as a result, but reports indicate that Dalot has emerged as the top candidate for the Catalan giants.

Building on that, SPORT is now again reporting that Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has given the green light for the club to pursue the signing of the Manchester United defender.

The 42-year-old tactician has a big say in the transfer decisions at Spotify Camp Nou, along with director Mateu Alemany. And he has now given his ‘OK’ for the Blaugrana to go after Dalot ahead of the next summer window.

The report indicates that Barcelona are aware that they cannot get the signing of a new right-back wrong after having faltered several times in their attempts to replace Dani Alves at the club.

They want a player who is young and has scope for progression while at the same time has some experience at the highest level of football. And Dalot fits the bill for the club, given that he has been at Manchester United for four years now and is just 23 years old, with plenty of room for development.

Furthermore, the report suggests that Dalot’s attacking play from the right-back position is something that has attracted the Blaugrana, given how Xavi demands his full-backs to push forward and join in attacks.

Dalot is in the final year of his contract with Manchester United. However, the Red Devils have the option of unilaterally extending it by another year, which they will take up as he is the first-choice right-back at Old Trafford.

However, whether they can convince the Portuguese international to continue beyond the season remains a question as the team are not doing all too well. In such a scenario, Barça are ready to pounce, although it could cost them €25 million to sign him.

Barcelona are understood to have contacted Dalot’s entourage to explore the feasibility of a transfer. With Xavi also giving the thumbs up to the deal, the La Liga giants could push for his signing more aggressively.