Barcelona has begun scouting for new centre-backs to strengthen the backline ahead of the 2026 window, following the departure of Inigo Martinez and with Andreas Christensen's future still unresolved.
Martinez left for Al Nassr last summer, and Christensen's contract expires at the end of the current season.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona officials travelled to Germany to monitor several candidates who could bolster the defensive line.
At the top of the list are Dayot Upamecano of Bayern Munich and Nico Schlotterbeck of Borussia Dortmund.
The report notes that Barca's interest in Schlotterbeck appears serious, especially since the 25-year-old's contract runs to 2027 and Dortmund reportedly rejected renewal offers.
If the player sticks to his stance, Dortmund may be forced to sell next summer to secure a financial gain.
As for Upamecano, his deal at Bayern ends at the close of the current season, making him available from January and potentially a free signing in 2026.
Barcelona would still have to contend with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool to land the French international.
The club's sporting leadership under Deco believes the Bayern and Dortmund duo are the standout options to reinforce the defence.
Flick assesses the damage
German coach Hans Flick has begun taking concrete steps to restore defensive discipline after a run of matches showing a fragile backline.
The coach recognises one of the season’s chief problems and has launched a comprehensive plan centred on higher pressing, better positional discipline, and increased defensive awareness while preserving the club’s philosophy.
Mundo Deportivo reports Flick's staff is intensifying work on fixing errors, especially around the offside trap and pressing on the ball carrier.
After the Bruges draw, a match that exposed deep defensive weaknesses, Flick said: "We won't change our philosophy, we are Barcelona." He explained he will continue with his approach, win or lose.
The season has seen a decline in the effectiveness of the offside trap, which Flick is trying to adjust.
A busy match schedule limits time for tactical work, so Flick has stressed defensive aspects in the early sessions of his tenure in the summer of 2024.
As the campaign continues, finding intensive training windows remains tough, with starters often taking light sessions while substitutes balance the physical load in mini-matches.
To boost defensive output, Flick and goalkeeper coach Heiko Westermann rely on the stadium’s large screen to review videos and correct mistakes; the focus is on precise timing of forward advances, retreats, and the correct positioning of players.
One key takeaway has been the need to apply higher pressure on the ball-carrier, a point highlighted by Mbappe’s goal in the Clasico after Jude Bellingham had several seconds to think before delivering a decisive pass.
At Balaídos against Celta Vigo, Flick experimented with tighter markers between De Jong and Borja Iglesias, even as Iglesias briefly broke the trap; a Dutch midfields lapse cost the team a late goal.
Linking with the reserves
A meeting between Flick's staff and Barcelona Atletico Madrid’s technical team underscored the coach's determination to unify the club's defensive identity, including a no-ball-work approach to ease the transition of players from the academy to the first team.
For years, Barca has relied on high-pressing as a constant trait, though possession remains a defining element; communications so far have centered on the reserves, with a caveat that playing without VAR raises the margin for error in such cases.
The backline issues aren’t isolated to the rear guard; turnovers in dangerous zones and collective pressure also contribute. The goalkeeper’s role is pivotal, with Juan Garcia and Wojciech Szczesny among those implementing proactive interventions outside the area as dictated by the system.
Delia, the dedicated goalkeeping coach, oversees this area with heavy emphasis on analysis and video work, while Flick remains vigilant about every detail.
Barcelona’s defensive vulnerabilities are a systemic concern, but the club’s emphasis on discipline and collective responsibility provides a path forward as the season progresses. The coming weeks will reveal whether the proposed defensive reset can translate into more solidity at the back.
Punchline 1: If Barca’s defense gets any tighter, the offside trap will start charging rent.
Punchline 2: They say defense wins championships; Barca might need a mortgage to sign the two targets – apparently, even the transfer market has a credit score now.
