Analysis: What should Barcelona do about their right-back conundrum this summer?

Barcelona are expected to be very active in the transfer market this summer, with several areas being targeted for improvement by the club’s sporting department. Xavi Hernandez, Deco and Joan Laporta will need to decide on how best to improve the first team squad, although it won’t be even given their financial woes.

Their two main priorities are a new pivot and left winger. Guido Rodriguez is joining from Real Betis to address the former, although another player is wanted on top of this, with the likes of Martin Zubimendi and Joshua Kimmich have been linked. For the wing, Nico Williams is an option, while Liverpool’s Luis Diaz has also been rumoured as a strong candidate.

One area that Barcelona may look to add options is at right-back, especially if Joao Cancelo does not return for next season. The Portuguese has had an underwhelming loan spell in Catalonia, having been noted for several high-profile mistakes in big matches, and although there is some interest in renewing his stay for an extra 12 months, Manchester City may look to permanently sell him instead.

Interesting, Barcelona may look to another Man City star to add to their right-back ranks, that being Yan Couto. Fichajes have claimed that interest in strong in the Brazilian, who’s had a very good season at Girona – he cannot be re-signed by Michel Sanchez’s side due to rules implemented by UEFA, so he may be available to join the other top team in Catalonia.

The report says that Barcelona would try for a loan with Couto, which would include an option to buy. Man City may well go for it, although it’s not known how they see the 21-year-old for their own side. He’d certainly be an interesting option for Los Blaugrana, although it’s worth nothing that his defensive capabilities, for the most part, are roughly on par with Cancelo’s – which is not ideal, although he has plenty of time to improve.

It seems straightforward for Barcelona to continue with Kounde as right-back for next season, as he’d had a very solid campaign on the whole, having arguably been the club’s best defender. Furthermore, Hector Fort is a more than capable backup, so although Couto could be a decent signing, he’s not particularly needed.

Right-back has been a problem area for Barcelona for the best part of a decade, but Kounde and Fort are very good options there, so there’s no real need to address this in the summer, especially given the tight finances. The limited money they have should be used elsewhere.