Barcelona are still refusing to rule out the signing of a central defender during the January transfer window.
In fact, according to Mundo Deportivo, the Catalans are seriously contemplating making a move for either Santiago Vergini of Newell’s Old Boys or River Plate’s Eder Alvarez Balanta [pictured, right].
Both players are well known to Barca boss Tata Martino following his time in Argentina, while Vergini’s agent claimed last summer that the Spanish champions were interested in him.
The fitness of Carles Puyol is understood to be causing some concern at the Camp Nou and a list that includes Liverpool’s Daniel Agger, Mats Hummel of Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea’s Brazilian international David Luiz appears to be growing.
However, Martino and director of football Andoni Zubizarreta will have the final say on the matter despite the South American pair each believed to command a fee of around €10m.
