'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the news?
Barcelona has identified Lyon's Ferland Mendy as their first-choice target for bolstering their options at left-back in the summer.
In case you didn't know...
Jordi Alba is the first choice left-back for Barcelona at the moment and the Spaniard has done a great job since he joined the club from Valencia in 2012. He has played 278 games for the Blaugrana thus far and helped the Catalonia based team win four LaLiga titles in the process.
However, Barcelona does not have a suitable backup for the Spaniard and they often struggle to replace him in the starting XI whenever he is injured or suspended.
Ernesto Valverde recently showed his concern about the situation and would be looking forward to bolstering his options at left-back in the summer transfer window.
On the other hand, Ferland Mendy is among the best left-backs in Ligue 1 and was the part of UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year 2017-18.
The heart of the matter
According to the reports by Mundo Deportivo (via Sky Sports), Barcelona is considering a summer move for Lyon defender Ferland Mendy.
Barcelona's director of football, Eric Abidal, who played for both Barca and Lyon during his career, is believed to be a huge fan of the 23-year old Frenchman.
However, the Blaugrana are also monitoring the situation of Atletico Madrid's Filipe Luis, who will be out of contract at the end of the season.
Rumour rating - 6/10
Mundo Deportivo is considered to be a reliable source in terms of football transfer news. Further, Barcelona is in need of a new left-back, and the deal is likely to go through in the summer.
What's next?
Barcelona will play Athletic Bilbao and Real Valladolid in the league next before facing Mendy's Lyon at Parc Olympique Lyonnais for the first leg of the Champions League Round-of-16 match on February 19.
