October 29
A Much-Needed Boost for the Catalan Side
Injuries have turned the defensive line into one of Barcelona’s greatest challenges early this season. Andreas Christensen, Eric García, Jules Koundé, and Xavi Espart have all suffered various injuries in recent weeks, leaving manager Hansi Flick with extremely limited options for his backline—a reality clearly evident in the matches against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
Barcelona suffered their first defeat of the season against PSG at the Parc des Princes (4–2) in the Champions League, followed by a loss in *El Clásico* against Real Madrid in La Liga at the Camp Nou (2–1).
Spanish media have noted that this situation once again highlights the urgent need to sign a defender—a priority the club overlooked during the last summer transfer window. Furthermore, club president Joan Laporta has had a specific player in mind for some time.
According to Xavi Campos and Laia Tudel on the *Barça Reservat* podcast, the Barcelona president has been keen for months to sign Pedro Porro, the Tottenham right-back and Spanish international.
Laporta was highly impressed by the player during the World Cup, where he followed his performances closely, and his interest has remained steadfast in the months since. Sporting director Deco also supports the potential move, though finalizing the deal will be no easy task for the Catalan club. The newspapers added that FC Barcelona inquired about the player’s situation during the final stages of the summer transfer window. However, the matter did not progress beyond this initial contact, as Tottenham’s demands—exceeding €60 million—proved too high.
It is worth noting that, prior to the World Cup, Tottenham extended Porro’s contract until 2031, significantly increasing his salary and making him one of the club’s highest-paid players. Nevertheless, the full-back remains open to the idea of returning to La Liga one day—a possibility that leaves the door slightly ajar for a future deal.
Signing Porro would strengthen the right-back position, allowing Koundé to serve as an alternative option and enabling Eric García to return to his natural role as a central defender.
However, a report from *Catalunya Ràdio* suggests that Porro is unlikely to be the club’s primary target during the winter transfer window, given the financial implications of both the transfer fee and his salary.
The program cited comments from the club’s treasurer, Ferran Olivé, who explained that any new signing in January would need to be offset by the sale of an existing player to ensure the deal is financially viable.
Consequently, a scenario gaining traction involves prioritizing the signing of a central defender in the winter—a move that would be economically feasible, similar to the João Cancelo deal last season—while deferring any potential pursuit of Pedro Porro until the summer transfer window.
