Getafe’s promising La Liga defender Djene Dakonam is reportedly on Barca’s radar, having talked with West Ham United in the summer.
This time last year, most football fans would have looked at you blankly if you mentioned the name Djene Dakonam.
He was a Togo international centre-back who made the move to Spain with Getafe from Belgian outfit Sint Truiden just over 12 months ago. And it is credit to his performances in Spain that a number of clubs have now been tipped to trigger his £35 million release clause.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are on the lookout for new centre-backs and Djene is one of the names on their wish list. Interestingly, it is Ramon Planes, the assistant to technical secretary Eric Abidal, who brought the 26-year-old to Getafe in 2017.
But could West Ham United have missed a big opportunity to bring one of the world’s next top centre-backs to the London Stadium. According to Foot Mercato in July, the Hammers held talks with Djene about a potential move to England.
West Ham failed to sign the powerful African and eventually brought in Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena, who have forged a promising partnership of late.
But, if Djene moves to Barcelona and stars alongside Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and co at the Camp Nou, he could feel like one that got away for West Ham.
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