Barcelona has officially moved to address its defensive needs by sending representatives to monitor Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez.
The 28-year-old Argentine international is currently being scouted during international duty in a match against Uruguay, according to “reports from SPORT.”
The Catalan club is reportedly prioritizing a defensive addition during the upcoming winter transfer window to bolster its current squad.
The club’s sporting department remains focused on this target, with officials noting that “Deco and Flick remain steadfast in their determination” to secure a new defender.
Martinez faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford as his contract is set to expire at the end of the current season.
The defender has experienced a turbulent campaign marked by “a public outburst against football director Jason Wilcox” following a recent defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Reports indicate that the player was subsequently reprimanded for his conduct, which included an alleged confrontation with teammate Youri Tielemans while traveling, as noted by “The Peoples Person.”
In addition to Barcelona, other major European clubs including Atletico Madrid and multiple Serie A teams are reportedly tracking the situation, per “details shared by The Peoples Person.”
Manchester United is currently weighing the possibility of a January sale to avoid losing the player for free next summer, according to “recent reports regarding the defender’s future.”
It remains unclear if the recent appointment of manager Mauricio Pochettino will influence the club’s final decision regarding the player’s immediate departure.
For now, Barcelona continues to monitor the situation closely to determine if a formal bid will be submitted when the transfer window opens in January.