Barcelona 'are interested in bringing Marc Bartra back to the Nou Camp' and have made initial contact with Real Betis over the defender.
Bartra, 30, joined Barcelona's La Masia academy at the age of 11 and graduated through the ranks to the first-team, where he made 103 appearances.
The centre-back was sold to Borussia Dortmund in 2016 and subsequently moved on to Betis where he has played 116 times.
Bartra is an important part of Manuel Pellegrini's side, who sit third in the LaLiga table, but Diario Sport say he would be tempted by a reunion with his former team-mate and now manager Xavi Hernandez.
Barcelona need to strengthen defensively given they are only eighth in the standings and Bartra's experience could be valuable as they struggle for form.
He recently produced an impressive performance to keep Memphis Depay and Co at bay as Betis won 1-0 at the Nou Camp.
But Barcelona could reportedly face competition from AC Milan for Bartra's signature.
Xavi has an enormous rebuilding job on his hands at the cash-strapped club. They have already exited the Champions League and will play Europa League football after Christmas.
Though Barca sit eighth in the table, they are only five points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid and retain a game in hand on most of the teams above them. They host Elche on Saturday evening.