Barcelona sporting director Deco is reportedly determined to bring Monaco defender Vanderson to the club this summer.
The Catalan giants are expected to sign a new right-back during the upcoming market, with the club wanting competition for Jules Kounde, who was initially brought to Camp Nou to be a central defender.
Vanderson’s future has been a point of discussion over the last couple of years, with a number of major European clubs believed to be keen on the 23-year-old, who has been capped on five occasions by Brazil.
According to Fichajes, Barcelona chief Deco is ‘obsessed’ by Vanderson, viewing him as the ideal player to boost the Catalan outfit’s defensive unit for the 2025-26 campaign.
The report claims that Vanderson ‘fits the profile’ of the type of full-back that the club want to sign, and a deal could be closed ahead of the opening of the summer transfer window.
© Imago
Barcelona ‘step up attempts’ to sign Vanderson from Monaco
Vanderson started his professional career with Gremio before making the move to Monaco in the summer of 2022, and he has gone from strength to strength during his time with the Ligue 1 club.
The defender has managed eight goals and 13 assists in 118 appearances for his current side in all competitions, including two goals and four assists in 34 outings during the 2024-25 campaign.
Vanderson is unlikely to come cheap due to his quality and the fact that he has now become an important player for Brazil, starting three of the national team’s last four matches on the right of their defence.
The South American would expect to be a starter at this stage of his career, though, which would present a problem to head coach Hansi Flick when it comes to selecting a back four.
© Imago
Flick would have selection ‘problem’ if Vanderson arrives
Kounde has been one of Barcelona’s best players this season, so it is very difficult to imagine him dropping out of the XI, especially as there is not an obvious route for him into the team as one of the two centre-backs.
Indeed, Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo and Inigo Martinez are currently competing for two spots, and that would become four competing for two if Kounde was regarded as a centre-back next term.
As a result, it would not be a surprise to see Barcelona instead target a back-up option at right-back, with Espanyol‘s Omar El Hilali fitting the brief, while Rayo Vallecano‘s Andrei Ratiu also allegedly has admirers at Camp Nou.
