Barcelona eye free transfer for Kurzawa to provide competition for Alba (Sport)

Barcelona are reportedly ready to turn their attention to signing Layvin Kurzawa on a free transfer in a bid to provide competition for Jordi Alba next season.

Quique Setien is keen to reshuffle his side for the 2020-21 season and with Kurzawa out of contract at Paris Saint-Germain this summer, it appears the Frenchman has emerged as a primary target.

According to SPORT, Barcelona are ready to freshen up at full-back with Junior Firpo ready to be sold, leaving a spot open behind first choice left back Alba.

Kurzawa almost departed PSG in January when it all looked to have been agreed for him to move to Italian champions Juventus.

That switch eventually fell through and having not agreed fresh terms to remain with in the French capital, Kurzawa is likely to be inundated with offers when he is available on a free.

Liverpool and Arsenal have both been credited with interest in the Premier League with the two sides keen to generate depth in the full-back roles,  much like Barcelona.

Despite looking set to leave the Parc des Princes, Kurzawa has still made himself available for selection and has featured in 14 Ligue 1 matches in the 2019-20 season.

He has made three Champions League appearances, most recently in the behind-closed-doors last-16 win over Borussia Dortmund in Paris just before lockdown measures were tightened.

With talk of a new arrival at left back this summer,  it appears Firpo, 23, is surplus to requirements.

He joined Barcelona from Real Betis for £16.2million, plus a potential further £9m in add-ons, last summer but has failed to nail down a first-team place. He has featured in 17 matches, starting nine in LaLiga and three in the Champions League, but Alba has been preferred in the majority of games with Ruben Semedo also occasionally slotting in.

And despite a contract that takes him through until 2024, reports in Spain suggest Barcelona are willing to sell him 12 months on.