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Josep Maria Bartomeu: 'Barcelona could sign new centre-back'

Bartomeu: 'Barcelona could sign new CB'
© Reuters
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says that his club are open to the possibility of signing a central defender in January.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has said that his club are open to the possibility of signing a central defender when the January transfer window opens for business.

The Spanish champions were said to in the market for a new centre-back due to the fact that Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen are both facing extended spells on the sidelines.

Ajax's Matthijs de Ligt, Tottenham Hotspur's Toby Alderweireld and Zenit St Petersburg's Branislav Ivanovic have all been linked with mid-season switches to Camp Nou.

Meanwhile, Liverpool's Dejan Lovren is the latest name being linked with the Catalan giants.

Bartomeu has admitted that Barca are "thinner" in central defence due to the injuries to Umtiti and Vermaelen, and has hinted that a new player could arrive in the winter transfer window.

"Well, injuries happen all of the time in football, you have to deal with it. These two centre-backs got injured so we are now a little thinner at this position," Goal.com quotes Bartomeu as saying.

"Even so, Gerard Pique and [Clement] Lenglet are both there and ready to cover well. A new defender? Well we always have our eyes open so let's see what we will decide to do in January. Injuries also allow younger players to play so you have to be able to cope with it."

Barcelona will welcome table-topping Sevilla to Camp Nou in La Liga on Saturday night.

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Self-proclaimed world's greatest defender Dejan Lovren basks in the Anfield glory during a match for Liverpool in May 2018
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
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2Barcelona29197360342664
3GironaGirona29195559342562
4Athletic Bilbao29168550262456
5Atletico MadridAtletico29174854342055
6Real Sociedad291210742311146
7Real BetisBetis29101273433142
8Valencia28117103232040
9Villarreal29108114751-438
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11Las PalmasLas Palmas29107122932-337
12Osasuna29106133343-1036
13AlavesAlaves2988132635-932
14Mallorca29612112535-1030
15Rayo Vallecano29611122538-1329
16Sevilla29610133644-828
17Celta Vigo2969143244-1227
18CadizCadiz29313132040-2022
19Granada2828183058-2814
20Almeria29110182857-2913

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