Barcelona set sights on €25 million rated Colombia ace

According to AS, Barcelona are ramping up their pursuit for a centre-back in the upcoming January transfer window, and have shortlisted Bologna centre-back Jhon Lucumi as a player who could bolster Hansi Flick's backline. Lucumi has become an important player for Colombia at the international stage and is across the most highly-rated defenders in Serie A.

Lucumi formed a brilliant centre-back pairing with Riccardo Calafiori in the 2023-24 season, which was Thiago Motta's final season at Bologna before he left to take the Juventus job. Bologna finished in the top four in Serie A and hence qualified for this season's Champions League. Additionally, Lucumi has also become one of the cornerstones of the Colombian national team, helping Los Cafeteros reach the final of the 2024 Copa America.

His performances have not gone unnoticed by Barcelona, who are in serious need of defensive reinforcements. The long-term injury that Ronald Araujo is currently recovering from, as well as the surgery Andreas Christensen recently underwent, have left the Catalans thin in the heart of the defence. That they have two solid centre-backs in teenager Pau Cubarsi and veteran Inigo Martinez has revitalised the team, but the lack of depth in those positions has become a real cause of concern for manager Hansi Flick. The situation has only been exacerbated by the recent draw against Celta Vigo, in which Barcelona gave up a 2-0 lead after leading for 84 minutes.

Barcelona wouldn't mind exercising the €25 million release clause attached to Lucumi's contract. Bologna, for their part, would agree to selling the player, given that he would be entering the final year of his contract at the end of the ongoing season.

Barcelona's LaLiga rivals Atletico Madrid were in fact close to capturing Lucumi's signature last summer, but Bologna blocked the move after Arsenal snapped up Calafiori. Now, though, it looks increasingly unlikely that the 26-year-old Colombian international will be seen in I Rossoblu colours next season.

Barcelona will be in confident mood heading into this weekend's LaLiga fixture against Las Palmas on Saturday, November 30, as they effortlessly defeated Brest 3-0 in the Champions League, thanks to Robert Lewandowski's milestone-achieving performance.