Barcelona are allegedly giving consideration to making an approach for a Segunda Division player this summer.
The Catalan giants are currently reeling from their Champions League semi-final exit on Tuesday night, going down 7-6 on aggregate to Inter Milan having lost 4-3 at San Siro.
As a result, Hansi Flick and his squad are left to focus on trying to secure a domestic treble by winning La Liga, a pivotal showdown with Real Madrid to come this weekend.
Nevertheless, off the pitch, plans will already be being put in place regarding potential arrivals, particularly when the club need to be stringent to comply with the relevant financial regulations.
According to Fichajes, Barcelona are open to the possibility of finding value money in the second tier of Spanish football.
Pubill approach under consideration
The report claims that Almeira right-back Marc Pubill has made a positive impression on the powers-that-be at Barcelona and presumably head coach Flick.
Pubill has chipped in with one goal and four assists from his 32 outings in this season’s Segunda Division, helping Almeria sit in sixth position in the table with four matches remaining.
However, Pubill is no stranger to playing at a higher level, representing Spain at last year’s Olympic Games and having 34 top-flight outings under his belt with Levante and his current club.
Although a contract is in place until 2029, Pubill is expected to be back featuring in La Liga in the near future, whether that be for Almeria or a bigger club.
Barcelona are said to be at the front of the queue and view Pubill as an ‘interesting option’ ahead of next season.
Furthermore, Pubill being viewed as an affordable addition also plays into his favour of securing a transfer to Camp Nou, although Barcelona are yet to make a formal offer.
Does the right-back area need strengthening?
Providing that Jules Kounde pens a new contract at Barcelona, Pubill would arrive in no higher than second place in the pecking order.
Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia and Hector Fort are a trio of alternatives, yet it is unclear whether some of those will be at the club next season.
The likes of Araujo and Garcia are versatile options, too, and may be required to deputise elsewhere.
As for Fort, he is only 18 years of age, and despite making five starts and 12 substitute outings this campaign, he may benefit from a year elsewhere in the short term.
