Barcelona have begun to reassess their priorities in the summer transfer market after manager Hansi Flick requested a broader search for a new center-back. He is keen to sign a player with the qualities that suit his high-pressing style and organized build-up play from the back.
According to press reports, Alessandro Bastoni and Nico Schlotterbeck are no longer the only options under consideration at the Catalan club. Arsenal’s French defender, William Saliba, has emerged as a top target after impressing the coaching staff.
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Flick believes Saliba possesses the attributes Barcelona are looking for, thanks to his pace, strength in one-on-one situations, ability to defend in open spaces, and composure when building play under pressure. The German coach believes these qualities are essential for leading the defense in the coming years.
Despite the manager’s strong belief in the French defender’s abilities, completing the deal will not be easy. Arsenal are determined to keep the player, and there are no indications that the English club are willing to part with one of their key players during the current transfer window.
Interest in Saliba is not limited to Barcelona. Reports indicate that Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are also monitoring the player’s situation, which could intensify the competition for his signature should Arsenal decide to open negotiations.
Barcelona’s interest in Saliba comes as the club continues to explore several options to strengthen its defense, especially given the complexity of other potential targets, whether due to high transfer fees or technical considerations.
Flick hopes to finalize the center-back position before the start of the new season by signing a player capable of providing the team with defensive stability, in line with his tactical project and Barcelona’s ambitions to compete for every title.
With Arsenal determined to hold on to their star player and interest from several other major European clubs, William Saliba’s future remains one of the biggest stories that could see significant developments in the final weeks of the summer transfer window.
