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Barcelona are reportedly eyeing 22-year-old Portuguese star Tiago Santos after head coach Hansi Flick expressed interest in adding a new defender to his squad. The Blaugrana were unable to sign a right-back in the summer transfer window due to the Financial Fair Play situation despite their interest in Joao Cancelo and Marc Pubill.
After failing to acquire a new right-back in the summer, Hansi Flick chose Jules Kounde as his preferred starter in that position, with Hector Fort serving as the backup option.
Although Flick is satisfied with the 25-year-old Frenchman's performance so far, the German manager wants to make a right-back addition to his squad in the summer of 2025. The Catalan club are considering Lille's Tiago Santos as a potential signing, as per SPORT.
Barca Universal reports that the Blaugrana are also interested in the Ligue 1 club's forward Jonathan David and have undertaken scouting trips to observe the 24-year-old Canadian international and Tiago Santos.
Tiago Santos signed for Lille in 2023 from his boyhood club Estoril for a reported fee of €6.5 million. In his debut season at Les Dogues, the 22-year-old defender helped keep 19 clean sheets while scoring three goals and two assists in 43 appearances.
Tiago Santos has been a regular starter for Lille so far this season, appearing in all 13 matches where he contributed to maintaining five clean sheets and provided two assists.
Barcelona reportedly handed injury boost before their next La Liga clash
Barcelona have reportedly received a huge injury boost with four of their players expecting to return to the pitch for their upcoming La Liga clash against Sevilla on October 20, at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
Since the start of the current season, the Catalan club has been missing many of their key players due to injuries. Dani Olmo, Gavi, Wojciech Szczesny, and Fermin Lopez will reportedly be available for Barca's 10th league match after the international break.
Gavi sustained a cruciate ligament tear in November last season while new signee Dani Olmo suffered a muscle injury in Barcelona's 4-1 win over Girona in September. La Masia graduate Fermin Lopez is also expected to be back for the club's upcoming clash after he picked up a muscle injury last month.
Barcelona's first-choice goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen recently sustained a patellar tendon rupture and is ruled out for the rest of the season.
Polish shot-stopper Wojciech Szczesny returned from retirement and joined the Catalan club as a free agent. The Blaugrana are expecting the former Juventus star to be ready for the pitch during the two-week international break.
Despite having multiple injuries in the squad, Hansi Flick has led his squad to the top of the La Liga table with 24 points in nine matches.
