FC Barcelona have spent a while scouring the market in search of a central defender. Bringing in fresh blood to act as cover for Carles Puyol and Gerard Piqué is a matter of urgency for the Azulgranas ahead of the new campaign. At 35, Puyol is in the twilight of his career and presently, the only alternative if either he or Piqué are unavailable is Javier Mascherano or, the case of an extreme emergency, Alex Song or Sergio Busquets.

Thiago Silva and Javi Martínez were on Barça's agenda last summer but the excessive transfer fees demanded by their respective clubs scuppered the capture of either player. Now, Barça's attentions have turned Manchester City's Vincent Kompany.

According to reports in the Sunday People, Barcelona are ready to table a fee close to 23 million euros to bring the Man City skipper to Camp Nou. Other names rumoured to be of interest include Mats Hummels, Thomas Vermaelen, Daniel Agger and David Luiz