Barcelona: Kimmich and Klostermann on Camp Nou radar
Barcelona are looking to shake up their squad next season with Lautaro Martínez, Nikola Milenkovic and the two Germany internationals on the list.
Barcelona are already working on a minor squad regeneration for next season and are concentrating their efforts on a right back, a central defender and a number nine to provide competition for Luis Suárez and eventually replace the 32-year-old Uruguay forward.
On Friday, reports in Catalonia suggested the Camp Nou board have identified the targets they would like to sign with two candidates for the right back position: Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich and RB Leipzig’s Lukas Klostermann. Barça attempted to sign versatile Bayern and Austria international David Alaba last summer but were rebuffed but are confident that their primary target, Germany defender Kimmich, can be persuaded to trade the Bundesliga for LaLiga. If they fail to land Kimmich, Barça will turn their attention to 23-year-old Klostermann, who has broken into the senior Germany side this year and whose contract at Leipzig expires in 2021.
Milenkovic and Lautaro Martínez on Barça's wishlist
In terms of a central defender, Barça are eager to find a less injury-prone alternative to Samuel Umtiti with Jean-Clair Todibo failing to impress since his arrival at Camp Nou from Toulouse in January, having made just four appearances for Ernesto Valverde’s side. Nikola Milenkovic, Fiorentina’s Serbia international, and Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen have reportedly emerged as the favourites for that role.
Lautaro Martínez is Barça’s priority for the front line but the Inter striker may prove to be too costly, in which case the Camp Nou board will turn their attention to Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.