Barcelona set sights on signing 24-year-old defender linked with Liverpool: Reports

Barcelona are ready to battle Liverpool for the services of Loic Bade, according to SPORT. The French defender has been outstanding for Sevilla since arriving at the club in the summer of 2023 from Rennes.

The Catalans are looking for a new defender. Inigo Martinez is already on the wrong side of 30 and his contract expires at the end of this season.

The LaLiga giants do have Ronaldo Araujo and Andreas Christensen in their books. However, both are linked with exits, with Araujo being a long-term target for Manchester United and Bayern Munich. Recent reports have suggested that Jules Kounde is being eyed by Chelsea once again.

The situation has prompted Barcelona to turn to the market and they have identified Bade as an option. The 24-year-old has established himself as one of the finest defenders in the league so far.

Bade could hit the ground running with a move to the Catalans, but prising him away won't be easy. He is under contract with Sevilla until 2029 and the Andalusian club reportedly value him at €30m.

The LaLiga giants will also face competition from Liverpool for the Frenchman. The Reds are looking for Virgil van Dijk's replacement, with the Dutchman in the final year of his contract.

The Merseyside club are engaged in renewal talks with van Dijk but are running out of time to tie him down to a new deal. Liverpool are scouting the market for solutions and have identified Loic Bade as an option.

Could Liverpool pip Barcelona for Loic Bade's services?

Loic Bade is wanted at Barcelona and Liverpool

Loic Bade could be tempted to join either Barcelona or Liverpool in 2025. The challenge of filling Virgil van Dijk's boots at Anfield could appeal to the Frenchman, whose leadership qualities could be a fine addition to Arne Slot's team.

Meanwhile, the Reds also have the finances to match Sevilla's asking price and can hand Bade a significant pay hike as well. The Frenchman could join a team on the rise under Slot and will be tempted to help them mark the start of a new era.

While Barcelona will be eager to sign him too, Bade's price tag could be a problem for them. The Catalans have already identified Bayer Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah as a target and he could be a more lucrative option. The German defender's contract at the BayArena expires at the end of this season and he is likely to be available for free in 2025.

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Edited by Parag Jain