Barcelona will reportedly target a centre-back and left-back in the summer after Robert Fernandez was spotted at Villarreal-Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the technical secretary attended the Copa del Rey last-16 second leg to keep a close eye on Athletic centre-back Aymeric Laporte and Villarreal left-back Adrian Marin, as opposed to January target Denis Suarez.
Laporte has emerged as Barca’s top CB target after privately being compared to Carles Puyol, but his release clause stands at €50m and the club are expected to face competition from the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United and Manchester City.
Marin, meanwhile, has established himself in Villarreal’s first team at only 19 and capitalised on Jaume Costa’s ankle injury and Bojan Jokic’s departure to Nottingham Forest in recent games.
La Blaugrana are also understood to have earmarked Everton’s John Stones and Man City’s teenage full-back Angelino further down the line.
