Barcelona are reportedly stepping up their bid to sign a left-back, with a January move for Liverpool star Alberto Moreno on the cards.
According to a report by Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona intend to secure the services of a left-back in the January transfer window. Several names are under consideration, with one of the subjects of interest being Liverpool defender Alberto Moreno, who is perhaps the most economical of targets.
Moreno has endured a rather frustrating stint at Liverpool, upon joining from Sevilla in the summer of 2014. Initially the first-choice left-back for the Reds, the Spaniard has gone through a trial by fire at Anfield, having become a bit-part player under the tutelage of Jurgen Klopp, largely due to his error prone ways.
As a result, first-team minutes have been hard to come by, especially since the turn of the year, with Moreno featuring in just eight games for Liverpool. With his current deal set to expire at the end of the season, a move away from the Merseyside club looks likely, with Barcelona in particular, interested.
Barcelona are in a serious predicament as far as their full-back positions are concerned. The Blaugrana have already struggled to replace Dani Alves on the right side of the defence, and now they could be put in a similar situation as far as the left-back slot is concerned.
Jordi Alba and Barcelona have reached an impasse over the possibility of signing a new contract, with his current deal having less than two years remaining. As a result, it is being widely reported that an exit from Camp Nou could be on the cards for the Spanish international, thereby forcing the Catalan club to scour for replacement options.
Several names have been thrown up by the rumour mill, including the likes of Nacho Monreal, Ferland Mendy and Juan Bernat, among others. But, Barcelona seem to have zeroed in on Liverpool star Moreno, who has emerged as an economical target.
While the 26-year-old could be available for free next summer, Barcelona are eager to secure his services in January itself, which does make sense. It was initially believed that Juan Miranda would play second fiddle to Alba this season. But, the initial signs point towards the deputy being Thomas Vermaelen, who himself faces an uncertain future at Camp Nou.
Moreno’s arrival could thus, mitigate that particular problem for this season, with the Liverpool star possibly coming into the reckoning for a role as the first-choice left-back as well, provided he shows some improvement upon his move.
For now, Moreno looks like a viable target for Barcelona to pursue in the January transfer window, especially with his Liverpool career going nowhere. It now remains to be seen if the Spaniard returns to La Liga in January, or if Barcelona end up turning their attention away from Liverpool instead.
