Barça want to strengthen right back this summer. The sporting management prioritize signing a forward, but also signing a player who can compete with Jules Koundé. The Frenchman has played every match due to the lack of trust in Héctor Fort, which has caused him to become overloaded at the end of the season.
Although the youth academy player could be a viable alternative, Flick doesn't seem to have him in his plans. Moreover, this forces the club to look for a solution in the market, intending to find a different profile. The idea is to ease the match load on Koundé and give the team more depth in that area of the field.
The club's idea was to bring in someone affordable
From Barça's sporting area, an affordable operation was initially considered. In this regard, several names are being analyzed, with Andrei Ratiu being one of the favorites. The Romanian international from Rayo Vallecano meets many of the characteristics the technical secretariat was looking for: experience in La Liga, physicality, and affordability due to his release clause.
Hansi Flick preferred a more experienced player
However, Hansi Flick seems to have other plans. Instead of a player who would arrive to be Koundé's substitute, Flick is committed to signing a top-level player, with the potential to challenge the French player for the position. That's why Jeremie Frimpong's name came up.
The Bayer Leverkusen right back has been one of the most outstanding footballers in the Bundesliga, and Flick knows him perfectly. His market price is around €35 million (35 millones), a figure that, although high for the current Barça, is considered manageable if certain outgoing moves were achieved.
Frimpong has a new team
Nevertheless, the dream of signing Jeremie Frimpong seems to have faded. According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the right back already has his move to Liverpool practically finalized for next season. The English club would have moved ahead with a firm offer and a sporting project that appeals to the player, thus taking him off Barça's radar.
This represents a heavy blow to Flick's plans, who considered Frimpong the ideal signing for Barça. Now, the sporting management will have to reactivate other options and find a right back who meets both the sporting demands and the club's financial conditions.