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By Vikram Iyer — 21 July 2026 — 4 min read

Barcelona are reportedly considering making contact with the agents of Spain international defender Aymeric Laporte. This potential move follows his strong performances at the recent World Cup, which La Roja won. Catalan newspaper “Sport” indicates that Barcelona’s board intends to initiate direct discussions with Laporte’s representatives to understand his future plans.

The club is showing significant interest in the 32-year-old defender, who is left-footed and is seen as combining experience with relative youth. His potential price is also considered suitable for Barcelona’s financial situation. Reports suggest that preliminary talks have already occurred during sporting director Deco’s time in the United States.

Both parties reportedly agreed to resume discussions once the World Cup concluded. These conversations are now said to be on the verge of taking place. Deco observed several of Spain’s matches from the stands and was reportedly impressed by Laporte’s performance level, particularly his strong partnership with teammate Pau Cubarsi.

Together, Laporte and Cubarsi formed what was considered one of the tournament’s best centre-back pairings. Their defensive solidity was deemed crucial in La Roja’s title victory. Barcelona is convinced that Laporte still has several excellent seasons ahead of him.

The Catalan club particularly values his extensive experience, leadership qualities, and his ability to distribute the ball effectively from the back. These attributes are seen as ideal for Barcelona’s style of play. The economic aspect of a potential transfer also makes it more attractive to the club.

The release clause in Laporte’s Athletic Bilbao contract is reportedly less than 15 million euros. This figure is considered very reasonable given his skill level and international experience. Inside the Camp Nou, there is a precedent for successful veteran Basque defenders.

Inigo Martinez, another experienced defender, arrived at the club and, despite initial doubts, became a key player. His solid performances and qualitative presence significantly improved the defensive line, and he played a crucial role as Barcelona secured a league and cup double in 2024-25. This experience strengthens the argument for a similar deal for Laporte.

Despite the interest, Barcelona’s board prefers a cautious approach. They plan to conduct extensive negotiations with Laporte’s agents over the coming days. Following these discussions, Deco will decide whether to proceed with a formal offer or to treat it as an initial inquiry.

Laporte’s name remains firmly on the list of potential candidates to reinforce Barcelona’s defence for the upcoming season. All attention is now focused on the negotiations that are expected to unfold.

Club’s current stance on defensive reinforcements

Despite being active in the transfer market, Barcelona currently has no plans to strengthen its central defence this summer. According to MARCA, the Catalan club believes it already possesses sufficient quality and depth at centre-back, indicating that this position is not a priority for the sporting department at this time.

The latest transfer news suggests that sporting director Deco is concentrating his efforts on other areas of Hansi Flick’s squad. The club is reportedly satisfied with the defensive options already available within the team. Reports indicate that Flick believes his squad is well-equipped in central defence as the new season approaches.

The German coach currently has several options at his disposal, including Pau Cubarsi, Eric Garcia, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, and Gerard Martin. Additionally, several highly-rated academy defenders are available should they be needed. With numerous players competing for a limited number of starting positions, Barcelona sees no immediate need to invest in another centre-back during the current transfer window.

Consequently, Barcelona’s transfer shortlist does not feature a priority defensive signing. This allows the club to focus on reinforcing positions that are considered more urgent elsewhere in the squad. Although Barcelona is not actively pursuing a central defender, the club’s sporting director, Deco, remains vigilant in the market.

The club continues to monitor potential opportunities in case circumstances change. Reports state that Deco frequently receives approaches from agents and intermediaries offering defensive players. While there are no advanced negotiations with any centre-back, despite previous links to players like Alessandro Bastoni, the sporting director continues to evaluate potential options as part of the club’s long-term recruitment strategy.

One player who has been linked with Barcelona in recent weeks is Aymeric Laporte. However, reports clarify that there are currently no ongoing talks despite the defender’s quality and experience. Barcelona’s recruitment team emphasizes the importance of staying prepared, as the transfer market can evolve rapidly, particularly during the final weeks of the window.

The only scenario that could alter Barcelona’s transfer plans would be an unexpected departure from the central defence. Ronald Araujo is mentioned as the only defender whose future has generated occasional speculation. However, Barcelona is not anticipating his exit and views that possibility as highly unlikely. Unless a significant development occurs later in the window, the club does not expect to lose any of its senior centre-backs before the transfer deadline.

Source: goal.com