Barcelona are reportedly set to battle it out with Serie A champions Inter Milan for the free transfer signing of Matthias Ginter in the summer of 2022.

According to a report from Italian publication Calciomercato, Barcelona will face serious competition from Serie A giants Inter Milan for the signing of Borussia Monchengladbach defender Matthias Ginter in 2022.

Ginter, a product of the SC Freiburg youth setup, has been a consistent and reliable performer in the German footballing scenes for years now. After a mixed stint with Borussia Dortmund, the 27-year-old joined Gladbach in 2017 and has been a mainstay at the back for Die Fohlen, chalking up 160 appearances, in which he has scored ten goals and set up five more.

Ginter has also established himself as a regular in the German national team, collecting 46 caps for the 2014 FIFA World Cup winners. Having established himself as one of the top defenders in Bundesliga, the 27-year-old has his sights set on a new challenge in his career, with his contract expiring at the end of the ongoing campaign.

His situation has led to strong interest from several top clubs across Europe, with Barcelona among the clubs keen on signing him on a free transfer next year. The interest from the Catalan giants makes a great deal of sense as well when one considers the fact that Gerard Pique, at 34, is very much in the final phase of his career and will need to be replaced.

A move to Barcelona beckons? (Photo by Boris Streubel/Bongarts/Getty Images)
A move to Barcelona beckons? (Photo by Boris Streubel/Bongarts/Getty Images)

In addition, both Samuel Umtiti and Clement Lenglet are out of favour at Camp Nou. They could be moved on in the future, which would leave manager Xavi Hernandez with an inexperienced defensive contingent of Ronald Araujo, Oscar Mingueza and Eric Garcia. So, signing a player of Ginter’s experience and pedigree would be a smart move on the club’s part.

However, they are now set to face serious competition from Inter Milan, who intend to bolster their defensive ranks with the German international’s signing. The Nerazzurri have three top centre-backs in Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij, Alessandro Bastoni while Andrea Ranocchia has been an able backup.

But, there are question marks over the future of de Vrij, who has emerged as a top transfer target for Tottenham Hotspur. His potential departure would warrant signing a quality replacement, making Ginter a viable option for the reigning Italian champions to consider.

The report adds that Inter Milan CEO Beppe Marotta is already working on a deal to lure Ginter to San Siro, which could put Barcelona on the backfoot in the race for his signing. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top in this duel for the services of the German international.

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