Leeds-linked star has reportedly become £25m target for Koeman’s Barcelona

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Barcelona might be lurching from one crisis to another these days but their on and off-the-pitch calamities have failed to deter Luiz Felipe from the idea of pulling on the famous red-and-blue shirt.

“It excites me because it means I’m doing a good job and the big clubs are watching,” the highly rated Lazio defender told UOL earlier this year when asked about reported interest from Camp Nou.

“But anyone who knows me, knows I’m calm and I don’t get carried away too easily. I have to stay focused and do my best for Lazio, who have given me confidence and support from day one.”

With Barcelona renewing acquaintances with a long-time transfer target this week, however, Felipe could be forgiven for letting his usually ice-cool demeanour slip for a second.

Because, after Barca’s defensive deficiencies were brutally exposed by Real Madrid in Saturday’s 3-1 Classico collapse, the Spanish giants are once again hot on the trail of perhaps the most exciting young centre-back in Italian football.

According to Calciomercato, Barcelona are already planning to sign the £27 million-rated Felipe in 2021, even if Manchester City’s Eric Garcia remains their number-one target.

So if Leeds were planning another run at a player they also batted their eyelids at during a relentless summer of speculation, Victor Orta will have to do battle in the boardroom with none other than Barca themselves.

In August, La Lazio Siamo Noi reported Leeds were willing to pay the massive transfer fee Lazio wanted for 23-year-old Felipe, only for Diego Llorente to emerge as a more realistic, and affordable, transfer target later in the window.

But as Felipe himself said in May, life at Lazio is treating him rather well.

Simone Inzaghi’s side are playing Champions League football for the first time in 12 years and, not so long ago, Lazio had Juventus fans fearing the Scudetto was heading to Rome after almost a decade in Turin.

If Leeds decide they have enough strength with Liam Cooper, Llorente and Robin Koch, and if Barcelona prioritise Garcia instead, Felipe will be in good hands at the Stadio Olimpico.