Ezequiel Garay could join Barcelona after being turned down by Premier League champions Liverpool, according to Sport.
You’d be forgiven for assuming panic purchases are as much a winter tradition in Catalonia as Kings’ Day.
This year it was Martin Braithwaite, raided from Leganes in controversial circumstances. In 2019, former Portsmouth man Kevin Prince-Boateng rocked up at Camp Nou.
And as Gerard Pique hobbled off during last week’s 1-0 defeat to new title favourites Atletico Madrid, tears in his eyes and his season potentially over, Barca’s worst fears were realised.
It speaks volumes about Barca’s poor recruitment record that, with Pique out for the forseeable, Clement Lenglet and the perma-crocked Samuel Umtiti are the only senior centre-backs at Ronald Koeman’s disposal.
But they say one man’s misery is another man’s fortune.
And, according to Sport, 34-year-old free agent Garay could be the man to fill Pique’s boots until the end of the season.
Fabrizio Romano claimed on his Here We Go podcast that Liverpool, who are enduring a defensive injury crisis of their own, turned down the chance to sign a 34-year-old Argentina international who has been without a club since departing cash-strapped Valencia in the summer.
But, with Manchester City demanding a sizeable sum for top target Eric Garcia, Barcelona may have no choice but to consider affordable alternatives.
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