With Ronald Araujo taking a leave of absence and Andreas Christensen being sidelined due to a major injury, FC Barcelona’s defense unit is in a difficult situation.
There seems to be a lack of choices at the core of the defense due to Hansi Flick’s increasing use of Eric Garcia in midfield and cover at right-back. The manager hopes to add a reinforcement in January. Barça sports director Deco is searching the market for alternative solutions to bolster their defense in the winter, even though a significant deal might not be feasible.
The 20-year-old Brazilian defender Jair Cunha, who plays for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, is reportedly a favorite of the Barcelona director, according to SPORT. Jair is also a favorite of the former Portuguese international, who is already pursuing Murillo, another Nottingham Forest star.
According to the allegation, Deco actually attempted to bring Jair to Barça Atletic in 2023 while the young Brazilian player was still playing for the Santos U20 squad. But their ambitions were derailed by an unfortunate injury.
Barca interested in two Nottingham Forest defenders
Murillo is one name that has frequently been used in connection with Barcelona. The Nottingham Forest defender is popular in Can Barca and has been included in the Brazil team. According to Sport, his skill with the ball, speed, and game reading make him perfect for Barcelona’s football style. With Barcelona’s salary cap predicament making a January transfer very unlikely, he is still a possibility for next summer.
However, Cunha has only made two senior appearances in the Premier League, where things have not gone as well. He is expected to make a move in January and may return to Brazil; Champions Flamengo are reportedly interested in signing him.
Given that Cunha appears to be more of a developing possibility, it seems doubtful that Deco and Flick would think that he is the best choice to offer Barcelona an instant boost. However, a move for Cunha in January could be more plausible.
