Malang Sarr (R) in action against Dijon in Ligue 1 (Getty Images)
According to Sport (h/t Daily Mail), Spanish giants Barcelona are considering a move for free agent Malang Sarr.
21-year-old Sarr is currently without a club after failing to agree on a new deal with his former club Nice following the end of his contract this summer.
A key player for Nice over the last few years, Sarr first grabbed the limelight after he kept 14 clean sheets from 35 league appearances for Nice in the 2018-19 season. Despite his young age, Sarr has already made 119 appearances for the French side across all competitions and even captained them once in the Ligue 1 last season.
This is a testament to the young centre-back’s worth, and it is not a big surprise that Barcelona have now shown an interest in signing him.
The Catalans, on the other hand, are planning for a squad overhaul following their 8-2 humbling at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinal recently. They also lost their league title last season to arch-rivals Real Madrid, suggesting that the side is in clear need of reinforcements.
At the moment, they just have three established centre-backs – veteran Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet, and Samuel Umtiti. Pique’s recent displays, like the match against Bayern, give a hint that age has finally taken a toll on the Spaniard. He is 33 now and is clearly a shadow of his past.
Umtiti, on the other hand, is still out of the side due to an injury and has spent most of his time at Camp Nou warming the benches. Despite arriving four years ago, the 26-year-old hasn’t managed to establish himself as a reliable figure and his constant injuries remain a concern for the La Liga side.
Lenglet has been decent enough though, scoring six goals from 85 appearances since joining the side back in 2018. The 25-year-old French defender has been consistent with his displays. He has been a key player despite his side’s struggles this season.
Apart from these three, Barcelona also have youngsters Jean-Clair Todibo and Ronald Araújo in their ranks. However, both of them lack experience, with Todibo spending the second half of last season on loan with Schalke. Araujo made a mere six appearances in the La Liga.
Thus, it is evident that Barcelona have a dearth of established centre-backs in their side and the club’s decision to make an approach for Sarr makes complete sense. Moreover, he would be available on a free transfer, which, in turn, would be a bargain for Barcelona.
Barcelona’s dismal show this season suggest that they really need new faces in the side and who better than Sarr, who has already proved himself in France. Moreover, he is just 21 and can still develop his game by moving to a side like Barcelona.
